SPRING MOLONEY BUDGET NEWS A3 4730.qxp_Layout 1 27/10/2015 11:14 Page 1 KILLARNEY LABOUR NEWS Arthur J. Spring TD Senator Marie Moloney October /November 2015 USC SLASHED Workers will see big gains from the Budget decision to significantly reduce the Universal Social Charge (USC). 700,000 low earners will be taken out of the USC entirely and middle income earners will benefit substantially. An employee on the average industrial wage will benefit by more than €400 per year, while someone with a yearly income of €55,000 will increase their take home pay by €677.
A married couple with three children and a joint income of €41,500 will benefit by €1,457 in net pay. A married couple, no children and joint income of €58,460 will benefit by €1,002 per annum. Employees on salaries of up to €70,000 will see a benefit of up to €902 and for people earning more than €70,000 the benefit will be capped. The increases in take home pay will commence from January 1st.
The Universal Social Charge was introduced as an emergency tax by the last Fianna Fáil Government after the crash in 2010. The Labour/Fine Gael Government has gradually reduced it and Labour is now committed to phasing out the USC for low and middle income earners. SELF-EMPLOYED TAX 9% TOURISM VAT RATE In the modern economy a growing proportion of the workforce is becoming self- employed. For the first time, a Government has acknowledged this in the RETAINED Budget. A special Tax Credit of €550 will now be allowed for self-employed. The 9% VAT rate has been retained again in There is also a targeted reduction to a Capital Gains Tax rate of 20%. Budget 2016, the measure has helped to see the industry grow and expand, creating employment and revenue for local communities. It is CHILDCARE estimated that measures supporting the tourism From now children will be eligible for Free Childcare from 3 years of age until 5½ and hospitality industry has created over 1,000 years or until they start primary school. direct and indirect jobs in Kerry. Nationally 22,300 jobs have been created in the restaurant A further €15 million has been allocated to facilitate the full participation of and tourism industry since the VAT reduction in children with disabilities. A new 2 weeks Paternity Benefit will be launched from July 2011. September 2016. Honest and Effective Representation SPRING MOLONEY BUDGET NEWS A3 4730.qxp_Layout 1 27/10/2015 11:14 Page 2
DID YOU KNOW...? CAPITAL PLAN That the Minimum Wage will be increased to €9.15 per hour from January 1st. A single worker on the minimum wage will see a €708 increase in €27 Billion Capital Plan Delivers for Kerry annual income. And the Lansdowne Road Pay Agreement for Public Servants also commences from January 1st. The government is to provide funding of €7.5 million towards the construction of the proposed Kerry Sports CARERS €1,700 Academy planned for the North Campus of Tralee IT under the new Capital Plan. This new international The Government has reversed the cut in the Respite Care Grant which centre of excellence will be home to: means that the new rate will be €1,700 for eligible Carers. As implied in the name, the grant is intended to enable 77,000 Carers to take a break I UNESCO Chair - Transforming the Lives of People from their very valuable work. with Disabilities through Physical Education, Sport, Recreation and Fitness PENSIONS I CARA - National Centre for Adapted Physical Activity Senior Citizens will get an extra weekly increase of €3.00 in their Pension I Health and Leisure Department of the IT, Tralee from January 1st as will Carers aged 66 and over. An extra €2.50 per week bringing the Fuel Allowance to €22.50 per week from January 1st for all I Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence long-term welfare recipients. I Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Sports and recreation are a vital part of life in Kerry and CHILD BENEFIT the new academy will be an important resource for Child Benefit will be increased by €5.00 bringing the basic rate to €140 everyone in the community involved in sports and per child per month. The Family Income Supplement (FIS) income recreation and supporting people with disabilities. threshold to be increased by €5.00 for each of the first two children. Building on Recovery in Kerry The Capital Plan will dramatically improve transports CHRISTMAS BONUS links to the county meaning better access for business The Christmas Bonus this year, 2015, will be increased to 75%. For a and tourism. The main project invested in include: single person this will bring the Christmas Bonus to €172.00 and for a couple to €330.00. . I Funding for Phase 4 of the Dingle Relief Road subject to Planning Permission being granted. I Upgrading the N22 Kerry/Cork Road with the SPORTS GRANTS Ballyvourney-Macroom By-Pass Under the Sports Capital Grant 2015 Fossa Rowing Club was allocated €15,000, Kilcummin GAA received €15,000, Killarney Legion GAA were I The Adare By-Pass linking the N21 Kerry to Limerick awarded €50,000 and Gneeveguilla GAA received €60,000. The Sports Road with the M7 Motorway Capital Programme ensures that as many clubs and organisations as I The N69 Shannon-Foynes Road improving road links possible have the facilities and equipment they need. to North Kerry.
SCHOOLS The Government will continue the Schools’ Building Programme. In 2016 the Minister has funding to employ 2,260 new teachers including 600 new Resource Teachers. This is in addition to the 610 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and 190 Resource Teachers already announced this year. The pupil teacher ratio is being reduced at primary level from 28 to 1 to 27 to 1 and, at second level, from 19 to 1 to 18.7 to 1. HOSPITALS Hospital staffing has increased by 3,000 since January 2014 Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin T.D., has Arthur J. Spring TD Working with your said and almost 1,000 of Tel: 066 7125337 these are nurses. Email: [email protected] local Labour Team Subject to negotiations with @SpringAJ Cllr Graham Spring the doctors, Free GP Care will 087 6506887 now be extended to all children under Senator Marie Moloney [email protected] 12. The Fair Deal Scheme is now on a fully funded basis Tel: 064 6632034 Cllr Terry O’Brien Email: [email protected] which means that everyone who needs Fair Deal funding 087 2634196 @SenatorMoloney [email protected] will be approved within 4 weeks.
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