Fine Gael want to ensure that more money is put back in the pockets of Kildare individuals and families to help with the cost of living in the forthcoming budget, according to Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon.

Minister Heydon said Fine Gael is pushing for a range of measures to be implemented in Budget 2023 on the 27th September, to make sure that work pays better for the people of County Kildare.

“Fine Gael knows that rising costs are making it ever more expensive to do the weekly shop, to fill your car and pay your bills. We have already acted with a suite of measures worth €2.4 billion to help households and businesses offset rising inflation, but we know that we can and must do more to address the high cost of living for Kildare residents.

“Fine Gael is pushing for a budget that puts more money back in your pocket and we have the following priorities:

  • Reducing the cost of childcare for all families in County Kildare;
  • Reducing student fees and providing more student grants to help with the cost of college;
  • Building more homes (social, private, cost rental and affordable purchase) ensuring lower rents and giving first time buyers saving for their deposit a grant of up to €30,000;
  • Helping with the cost of petrol and diesel by keeping excise low and cutting train and bus fares permanently in County Kildare;
  • Increasing payments for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and the vulnerable;
  • Giving more people free GP care and lowering the cost of medicines.

“The Summer Economic Statement published yesterday provides for a total budgetary package of €6.7 billion in 2023, of which almost €5.7 billion will be allocated for public spending and €1.05 billion for taxation measures, almost double that originally budgeted for the tax package.

“Reducing income tax is the best way to ensure County Kildare people get to keep more of their hard-earned income. The average person working full time in Ireland earns more than €40,000 a year.  They stand to lose 52% of any pay increase they get in income tax, USC and PRSI, and that simply is not fair.

“We want to make sure working people and middle-income earners get to keep most of any pay increase they get. The average two income couple both working full time pays €800 a year less in income tax than they would if Sinn Féin had done the last Budget.

“On the expenditure side, additional funding of €5.7m, will support the implementation of measures that can protect the most vulnerable in society, address public service pay in a sustainable manner, support improvements in our public services and infrastructure, while ensuring that policy does not become part of the inflation problem.

“This will support Fine Gael’s focus on alleviating cost of living pressures and ensuring that work pays better for those living and working in Co. Kildare,” concluded Minister Heydon.