News | MATT CARTHY TD

Government back to school measures shows pressure works, but many will still get no help

Government back to school measures shows pressure works, but many will still get no help – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has said that the government measures on back to school costs announced last week will mean that many struggling families will not receive any assistance.

The Cavan Monaghan representative said:

“The measures announced by government on back-to-school costs show that pressure works. Until Monday of last week, the government were determined to wait until September before taking any action on back to school costs for families, even though that would be too late for many parents who are struggling with school costs right now.

“I welcome that the government have taken on board some of Sinn Féin’s proposals.

“However, they must realise the scale of the cost of living crisis means that many families who do not qualify for the Back to School Allowance are also really struggling.

“A family with one child in school, and with a total household income above €620 per week – well below the average wage – will not qualify.

“Many people on wages like that, and above, are really struggling week to week. For those families, they will be put to the pin of their collars as they face bills of hundreds of euros on school costs; sometimes over a thousand euro.

“Under Sinn Féin’s proposals, 500,000 additional children – targeting families with a combined household income of €80,000 – would have been eligible. This would have given help to those who don’t qualify currently. Under the government’s proposals, many of these families will still not get anything.

“So, the government finally woke up to the reality when it comes to back to school costs, but they have a way to go still.

“Government must come back and consider Sinn Féin’s proposals to extend Back to School Allowance to middle income earners, as well as cutting the cost of books and uniforms, if they really want to get to grips with this crisis.”

Letter from constituent

During his contribution to a Sinn Féin private members motion on Back-to-School costs Deputy Carthy read into the Dáil record extracts of a letter he had received from a constituent.

He told the Dáil:

“I commend Sinn Féin’s Education spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire not only on this motion but on forcing the Government to a point where, despite its protestations, it was unable to hide from the fact that measures had to be introduced to support families with the costs of sending their children back to school.

“I welcome the measures that were announced. I particularly welcome the announcement of free school transport, and I hope it will become a permanent measure. I also hope the school transport scheme will be expanded so we can get rid of the ludicrous situation where school buses in my constituency are passing children who have to get into the family car to get to school because they do not qualify under the arbitrary criteria that are in place.

“With regard to the financial packages that have been announced, I wish to put on the record extracts from a letter I received this morning. It states:

‘I am a 30-year-old full-time working mother of three and have worked from when I was 16. I got married at 24 and have never been on benefits.

‘In 2020 we bought our home and in December 2021 I had my third child. I had to return to work in March of this year, three months after having that baby, as the €250 a week payment was not enough to keep food in my children’s mouths and a roof over their head. My husband also works full-time but due to the increase in costs it was just not possible for me to stay at home any longer. The government have added an extra two weeks for parental leave, which is wonderful, but what about the mothers who cannot even take the six months maternity leave off because of affordability issues?

‘In September I will have two children attending school and recently I went to apply for the back to school allowance. I didn’t even get past the first stage because the question was “Which of the following payments are you receiving?”. As I said previously, none, so therefore I am not entitled. I cannot afford the €1,000 on school supplies. I also have child care to pay and again I am not entitled to any subsidies. This is an unfair situation.’

“Minister, I have no option but to write back to that mother and tell her that nothing has been provided by the Government for her situation because it has not extended the eligibility criteria for the back-to-school allowance.

“According to Minister after Minister, no other measures will be in place until the end of September, a month after her children go back to school. I again appeal to the Government to introduce an emergency budget that will provide supports for families such as the family of this mother.”

ENDS

Families need dramatic reduction in childcare costs

Families need dramatic reduction in childcare costs – Matt Carthy TD

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, last week challenged the Minister for Children on the progress made by government in reducing the cost of childcare and improving conditions for early years educators.

Speaking as Sinn Féin published the party’s childcare policy that sets out how childcare fees can be cut by two thirds for families Deputy Carthy asked the Minister to outline the steps taken by government to date.

Deputy Carthy criticised the government’s failure to adequately support families with childcare costs or to ensure that childcare professionals are adequately paid.

On the government’s stated intention to freeze childcare costs, Carthy said:

“Families do not need to see their childcare costs frozen; they need to see them reduced dramatically.

“Sinn Féin has launched a document, Delivering Affordable Childcare, which outlines how we, in government, would reduce fees by two thirds. That is the type of support families and workers need in the here and now. Ireland has higher childcare rates than almost anywhere else in Europe.

“In that context, it is an absolute travesty that the very professional and well-qualified workers in the sector are among the lowest paid of any of those with similar educational attainments.

“This needs to be dealt with by the Government setting a wage scale, in the same way as the Department of Education does for teachers and as operates in other areas as well.

“In our alternative budget last year, Sinn Féin outlined mechanisms that would improve the pay and conditions of people working in the childcare sector and reduce childcare costs for families and workers. None of those things has happened. Many would argue that whatever was in the Government’s budget amounted to a stunt. Childcare costs have not come down and the pay and conditions of workers in the sector have not improved”.

Sinn Féin’s childcare policy can be viewed on the party’s website www.sinnfein.ie

ENDS

Carthy accuses government of misusing transport funds over N2 Clontibret to the border scheme

Carthy accuses government of misusing transport funds over N2 Clontibret to the border scheme

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has accused government of misusing transporting funding in a manner that discriminates against some regions.

Deputy Carthy raised the issue of the N2 Clontibret to the border road scheme with Public Expenditure Minister, Michael McGrath, who was representing the Taoiseach during questions on promised legislation. Carthy said the decision to withdraw funding for the N2 scheme was in contravention to government policy.

He told the Dáil:

“As the Minister is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have to ask him if he is aware of the misuse of transport funding that is discriminating against regions in this country?

“The N2 road alongside the A5 has been considered in several Government documents and plans to be a crucial artery and economic driver for both the Central Border and the north-western regions of the country. However, unilaterally, the funding for the next phase of the Clontibret to the Border section of that scheme was withdrawn this year.

“Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has confirmed that will be revisited at the direction of the Government. However, it seems that nobody in government is willing to make a case. I need to know if the Minister has been examining how this money is allocated and the fact it discriminates against key regions and is actually undermining other agreed Government policy”.

In his response Minister McGrath said:

“The Department of Transport has a funding commitment of €30 billion out to 2030 in the national development plan, NDP. We have a provision within the programme for Government for a 2:1 ratio in terms of new investment in favour of public transport infrastructure relative to new road infrastructure. That still provides very significant funding for investment in new road infrastructure, including upgrades of existing primary and secondary national roads. I will look into the issue the Deputy raised and ask the Minister to respond to him”.

Following the exchange, Deputy Carthy said:

“The Clontibret-to-the-Border scheme was included in the National Development Plan, but it emerged in January that it had been ‘shelved’ from funding by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

“But, in January, the Minister responsible, Eamon Ryan, reversed the decision to shelve other projects due to demands from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives in those affected constituencies. This begs the question as to the role of Cavan Monaghan government representatives with regard to the Clontibret to the border scheme.

“Transport Infrastructure Ireland have quantified the Benefit Cost Ratio of the N2 Clontibret-to-the-border scheme as delivering two-and-a-half times the value of the investment required.

“They do so on the basis of taking this scheme in a silo, when in fact, taken with other works such as the A5 it is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the economic development of the north west and border region that will drive much greater economic impact.

“It is even more valuable as a matter of public safety where it scored the highest possible grade regarding impact. This will come as no surprise to those living alongside the existing route, particularly in light the most recent crash in the village of Emyvale involving a HGV.

“But today, TII categorically inform us that at the earliest, this impact on public safety is over a decade away – that represent a categoric failure of the government representatives of this constituency to advocate on behalf of a project of real and substantial impact.”

ENDS

Removal of A&E from Monaghan Hospital did not lead to improved services

Removal of A&E from Monaghan Hospital did not lead to improved services – Carthy

“Which is it? Is it an operational matter or are Fianna Fáil playing political games?” So asked Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, referring to services at Monaghan Hospital in a Dáil debate on Tuesday evening.

Carthy was speaking during a debate on a Sinn Féin motion in respect of the threatened closure of emergency services at Navan Hospital.

In his remarks Deputy Carthy recalled previous commitments provided on Monaghan Hospital including by the then Fianna Fáil Minister (and now Taoiseach) Mícheál Martin in 2002 when he gave ‘a categorical assurance that the future of the General Hospital was secure’ according to newspaper headlines at that time.

He noted that service after service were subsequently removed from Monaghan Hospital and, in response to current Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Carthy stated bluntly: “Don’t you dare say that the removal of services at Monaghan Hospital led to better services elsewhere, because there’s precisely no evidence of that.”

Referencing his ongoing call for the expansion of hours at the Minor Injuries Unit at Monaghan Hospital, Deputy Carthy took aim at Fianna Fáil. He cited a response from Minister Donnelly to him that stated that this was ‘an operational matter’ but that there is ‘no plans’ to expand the opening hours.

He then produced a copy of last weeks article in The Northern Standard sub-titled ‘Senator Gallagher informed that Minister willing to engage on extending opening hours’ leading Carthy to ask the above question.

He said the decision of Cavan Monaghan Fianna Fáil TDs to vote against the Sinn Féin motion on Navan Hospital showed that their party had, in fact, learned nothing from the experiences in Monaghan.

Speaking to the motion, Deputy Carthy said:

“The people of Meath are 100% correct to fight for their hospital services and their elected representatives are absolutely correct to bring this matter to the floor of the Dáil.

“I would say to the people of Meath and their representatives to be keep fighting and to be extremely weary of promises of better services to come at some point in the future.

“Because, as someone from County Monaghan we’ve heard it all before”.

Producing a local newspaper front page from 2002, Deputy Carthy said:

“We know what happens to commitments on local hospital services given by Fianna Fáil Ministers for Health. Look at this headline from 2002:

“‘Minister Assures future of Monaghan Hospital’.

“Who was that Minister? None other than ‘Minister for Health and Children, Mícheál Martin TD, gave a categorical assurance in Monaghan on Tuesday that the future of Monaghan General Hospital was secure.’

“We’re not even allowed to call it a general hospital anymore!

“But, of course, that Minister, Micheál Martin, and all those who came behind him – continued to oversee the downgrading of services from our hospital. Always with the promise of better services to come.

“We’re still waiting. Because better services didn’t come.

“Ask anyone who has drove by the gates of Monaghan Hospital to land in the maelstrom that is Cavan or Drogheda emergency departments that are bursting at the seams; that are forced to wait for hours on end and dealing with staff that over-stretched and over-burdened.

“Minister Donnelly, don’t you dare say that the removal of services at Monaghan Hospital led to better services elsewhere, because there’s precisely no evidence of that.

Minor Injuries Unit

“Monaghan was given, instead of emergency services, a Minor Injuries Unit.

“But, it only operates five days a week from 9am-5pm – by far the shortest opening hours of any MIU in the state. If those services were expanded it would ease the pressure on GP services that are extremely stressed and on A&E services.

“When I asked Minister Donnelly to ensure the expansion of those hours he stated it was an operational matter and ‘that there are no plans to extend the operating times of the Minor Injury Unit at Monaghan Hospital’.”

Holding a copy of last weeks The Northern Standard, Carthy continued:

“But, then a Fianna Fáil Senator last week reported that the Health Minister is willing to engage on the issue of the Minor Injuries Unit.

“So, which is it? Is it an operational matter, or are Fianna Fáil once again playing politics.

“We’ll know when the vote on this motion takes place. Because any representative from Meath or surrounding communities votes in favour of the government amendment – knowing the experience that happened in Monaghan and elsewhere – are knowingly voting for the removal of services at their local hospital. They are knowingly voting for increased pressures on Drogheda A&E.

“And, if any representative from Cavan Monaghan votes for that amendment then all they are showing is that they have learned nothing from the experiences of the people of Monaghan.

“Shame on them!” he concluded.

ENDS

Government will not co-finance EU exceptional farm supports

Government will not co-finance EU exceptional farm supports

A shameful position says Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has described ‘the failure’ of the Minister for Agriculture to secure government co-financing support to EU agriculture funding as ‘shameful’.

While Ireland received €15.8 million from the European Crisis Reserve (ECR) the European Commission gave member states significant flexibility to increase supports to farmers by up to 200% through direct exchequer funding, potentially unlocking a further €31.6 million in supports for Irish farmers. But, in a response to a Parliamentary Question Minister McConalogue has now confirmed to Deputy Carthy that government will not be utilising this provision.

Teachta Carthy said:

“The Minister for Agriculture has now confirmed, for the first time, that he will not be utilising the co-financing mechanism to provide additional financial supports to farmers through the European Crisis Reserve.

“Considering the enormous pressures that many family farmers are facing, particularly with rising input costs, this position is shameful and unforgivable. It appears that government have not yet learned that increased costs for farmers results in increased grocery prices for consumers. Their inaction will worsen the cost-of-living crisis.

“In agriculture, as with so many other areas, government have continually acted too slowly and in a minimalistic manner. We know that farmers within the pig, tillage and livestock sectors are crying out for support. The EU provided for government intervention to provide further supports. Minister McConalogue has now confirmed that he will not utilise this provision.

“Sinn Féin will be demanding a rethink of this position. Often, government cite EU rules, as reason not to intervene in the cost-of-living crisis. In this instance the EU has provided for government to support struggling farmers to the tune of €31.6million. That they have choose not to will not be forgotten by farmers or the rural communities that depend on them.”

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Parliamentary Question below.

______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 14/06/2022
Question Number(s): 1946 Question Reference(s): 29032/22
Department: Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Asked by: Matt Carthy T.D.
______________________________________________

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 730 of 24 May 2022, if he intends to avail of the co-financing mechanism of the European Crisis Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

On 23rd March, the EU Commission announced the adoption of exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The aid provided for was granted as a measure supporting agricultural markets following the transfer of funds from the reserve for crisis in the agricultural sector.

The exceptional aid allocation to Ireland was €15.8 million in EU funding and there are detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this allocation; set out in Commission Delegated Regulation 2022/467 of 23rd March 2022.

On 6th June, I announced the opening of the Horticulture Exceptional Payment Scheme. Support is being provided to the critically important Irish horticulture sector, with an aid package of €2.8m for eligible growers. On 13th June, I announced the opening of applications for the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2). A total fund of €13 million is being made available for this voluntary scheme for pig farmers, to support the viability of this important sector. These scheme are funded from Ireland’s EU funds allocation for exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Exchequer funding will not be used to co-finance the exceptional aid measure. Ireland will instead provide exchequer funding separate to Commission Delegated Regulation 2022/467 to other sectors in the context of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the use of the EU exceptional aid provision, and in acknowledgement of the need to address the multiple impacts of the illegal invasion in Ukraine on food supply chains and food security, significant funding has already been allocated towards Exchequer funded measures including a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector, and the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme.

ENDS

“Threat to Navan Hospital services will be very familiar to Monaghan people”

“Threat to Navan Hospital services will be very familiar to Monaghan people” – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has said that the current threat to services at Navan Hospital will be very familiar to Monaghan people as will the HSE promises of better services to be provided elsewhere. Deputy Carthy said that the plans to remove crucial emergency services from Navan Hospital will impact primarily on communities in Meath but, as with the removal of similar services in Monaghan, it with result in further stress at other hospitals such as Drogheda.

Teachta Carthy stated:

“The people of Navan and surrounding communities are right to vigorously oppose the removal of vital services from their local hospital.

“The stated proposal by the HSE to close the Accident and Emergency Department at Navan will be all too familiar to Monaghan people. The HSE suggestion that a Navan Minor Injuries Unit will be met with incredulity in Monaghan where the same promise was previously made – that service current operates minimal opening hours, a situation government insist they will not change.

“In County Monaghan the decisions by previous Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments to remove services from Monaghan hospital continue to have serious negative repercussions.

“Emergency services were withdrawn from Monaghan and resulted in drastic overcrowding at Cavan and Drogheda hospitals.

“A minor injuries unit, MIU, was eventually established. It is a great service that should serve to ease pressure on both GP and emergency departments. However, the MIU only operates Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in contrast with most other minor injury units which operate seven days a week, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

“On top of that, for non-GP referrals there is now a fee of €75 for patients to attend.

“The result of this is that the numbers attending the MIU are not optimal while the demands on GPs and on emergency departments are ever growing. It is as if the Government is trying to make a bad situation worse.

“Now, a bad situation at A&E departments in Drogheda and elsewhere could be worsened if the current plans to close Navan emergency services are allowed to proceed. Communities in Meath are absolutely correct to oppose those moves and they will have the full support of Monaghan people.

“The fact that it is again a Fianna Fáil Minister that is overseeing the removal of services at Navan, just as it was in Monaghan. In both cases Fine Gael are willing partners to the decimation of local health services.

“Governments refused to listen when we warned them of the consequences of withdrawing services from Monaghan Hospital – a decision still rightly challenged by all right-thinking people – in the interest of the people of Meath and beyond, I hope government will listen this time.”

ENDS

Opening of Carrickmacross Primary Care Centre should be only first step for local healthcare

Opening of Carrickmacross Primary Care Centre should be only first step for local healthcare – Matt Carthy TD

Local Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has welcomed the opening of the Carrickmacross Primary Care Centre, with the official opening set to follow in July.

In response to parliamentary question the HSE has confirmed to Deputy Carthy that the 40 HSE staff in place would be providing services from the Primary Care Centre in the areas of: Primary Care; Dental; Mental Health Services; Dietetics; Occupational Therapy; Physiotherapy; Podiatry; Psychology; Social Work and Speech Therapy.

Deputy Carthy said:

“The opening of this Primary Care Centre will be welcomed by the local community in Carrickmacross, who have been long impacted by the hollowing out of services at local hospitals in Monaghan and Dundalk and the GP shortage in the region.

“The services at the Primary Care Centre will only serve to deliver for the people of the area if they are in tandem with well resourced and working services across the health service.

“Various aspects of the health service in our area continually fail to effectively function.

“In particular, the dental scheme for children and audiology services in Monaghan have waiting lists that are far too long. The shortage of GP services is a constant issue brought to my attention.

“Covid can only be blamed for delays for so long – the people of Carrickmacross expect and deserve solutions from government, not excuses.

“Sinn Féin have published detailed proposals as to how we would tackle waiting lists, address staffing issues, and reform the health service to deliver one which is truly free at the point of access, and prompt access at that.

“The opening of this Primary Care Centre is indeed welcome – but only as a first step towards delivering the world leading health care that the people of Monaghan deserve, and that our taxes already justify.”

Response to Parliament Question:

Re: PQ ref 24750/22

To ask the Minister for Health when the primary care centre in Carrickmacross will become operational; the services that will be available in the centre at that date; the services that will become available at a later stage; the number of professionals and grades that will be based in the centre associated with each service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dear Deputy Carthy,

The Health Service Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in the context of the above Parliamentary Question, which you submitted to the Chief Officer, CHO 1 for response. I have examined the matter, and the following outlines the position

The Carrickmacross Primary Care Centre is now operational and providing services to the public since mid-April. The official opening is due to take place in early July.

There are approximately 40 HSE staff providing services from the Primary Care Centre including Primary Care; Dental and Mental Health Services.

There are five Public Health Nurses based in Carrickmacross and one Registered General Nurse. In addition there is a Tissue Viability Nurse and a Continence Nurse based in Primary Care Cavan/Monaghan across both Networks who may provide level two specialist nursing interventions to clients in the Carrickmacross area where there is an identified need.

Other services being provided by the local Primary Care Team in the Centre in Carrickmacross include Dietetics; Occupational Therapy; Physiotherapy; Podiatry; Psychology; Social Work and Speech Therapy. In each of various clinical disciplines there is one staff member assigned to Carrickmacross Primary care Team, apart from Physiotherapy which has two staff members. There are also two Administration staff providing support to the Primary Care Team.

Further recruitment is ongoing but all of the HSE staff identified above are in position and currently providing services.

As the roll out of Chronic Disease Management continues, these services will also be delivered in the Primary Care Centres across the county.

Yours sincerely,

A/Head of Service Primary Care

ENDS

Action needed on diesel rebate for farm contractors

Action needed on diesel rebate for farm contractors – Matt Carthy TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has said that farm contractors deserve a commitment to action from government following consistent delays to a review to their tax status in relation to the carbon tax.

While farm contractors were first promised a review of their status regarding the rebate in 2019, this has been delayed on a number of occasions since then with the Minister for Finance now promising delivery of the review in the early stages of Q3 of this year in a parliamentary question response to Deputy Carthy.

However, Carthy said that ‘the simple facts of the matter is that farm contractors carry out the exact same work as farmers, and the refusal of government to commit to reform simply results in these charges being passed on to their farming customers.’

Teachta Carthy said:

“It has been incredibly frustrating to see the Minister for Finance repeatedly delay this review.

“It is yet another example of the challenges facing those involved in Irish agriculture today being compounded by the lethargic attitude of this government towards resolving long-standing inconsistencies.

“Currently, farmers can avail of a rebate on the carbon tax if their income is sufficient. However, the same provision is not in place for Farm Contractors despite the fact that they are carrying out agriculture work.

“Contractors have no choice but to pass on the charge to their customers – effectively making it an additional cost to farmers.

“It is particularly galling that in the most recent response to parliamentary question the Minister for Finance has said that he must ensure that tax measures are aligned the ‘the need to meet our Climate Action Plan’.

“Would the Minister believe it to be more beneficial if every single small-to-medium sized farmer in the state set about purchasing a personal fleet of agricultural machinery?

“That would seem wasteful to me, as opposed to the current framework whereby farm contractors fill that gap and ensure that each piece of individual machinery is used to the maximum.

“That we would penalise both farmers and farm contractors for this type of approach is beyond belief and makes no sense from the perspective of meeting our climate obligations.

“The Minister has confirmed he intends to complete the review exercise prior to the budget, though will not commit to bringing forward measures in the budget arising from that review.

“There can be no further delays. During a period of escalating input costs, farmers need support. One such support must be through a rebate of the carbon tax for those doing essential agriculture work for which there is no fuel alternative yet.”

NOTE TO EDITOR – Response to Parliamentary Question

________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 24/05/2022
Question Number(s): 163 Question Reference(s): 26254/22
Department: Finance
Asked by: Matt Carthy T.D.
______________________________________________

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects a review into the status of farm contractors regarding the carbon tax to conclude; the timeframe which he may bring forward proposals arising from said review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The present position is that agricultural contractors are not entitled to avail of relief from increases in the carbon tax on farm diesel under section 664A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This is because farming, which is defined in section 654 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, requires the occupation of farmland. Agricultural contracting does not involve the occupation of farmland. The measure is specifically targeted at the farming sector to address the particular problems faced by family farms.

However, it should be noted that, currently, those who incur expenses in relation to farm diesel in the course of their trade of agricultural contracting may claim an income tax or corporation tax deduction for these expenses, including any carbon tax charged in respect of the diesel.

My officials met with contractors’ representatives in December 2019 and advised that my Department was intending to schedule a review of the scheme (and related aspects) in the context of a wider report on agri-tax reliefs and the Government’s Climate policy.

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the intervening period caused the review to be deferred and the formal elements of same have yet to take place. In the meantime, the status quo has remained in relation to the application and scope of section 664A. I have since received further correspondence from contractors’ representatives, most recently on 15 February 2022.

I indicated to the Deputy during the Committee Stage of the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 on 6 April this year, that I expected that the review would be completed in advance of Budget 2023. As indicated to Deputy Conway-Walsh in response to a Parliamentary Question on 28 April last, the exercise is likely to be completed by the early part of Q3 this year.

As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions regarding taxation measures are made as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process at the appropriate time and having regard to the sound management of the public finances and my Department’s Tax Expenditure Guidelines. Furthermore, I must also have regard to ensuring that any tax measures are broadly aligned with the need to meet our Climate Action Plan targets.

END

Carthy accuses constituency FF/FG reps of staying silent on Monaghan Roads

Carthy accuses constituency FF/FG reps of staying silent on Monaghan Roads

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has said that his constituency Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael colleagues ‘must have stayed silent’ following the decision of government to withdraw funding from the N2 Clontibret to the Border Road scheme.

Speaking during statements on Transport in the Dáil last week Deputy Carthy said that the road network in County Monaghan was in a deplorable state.

There was much criticism of Transport Minister Eamon Ryan during the debate – the title of the statements was changed at the last minute to ‘Transport, Accelerating Sustainable Mobility’ and during his address Minister Ryan failed to mention the turmoil of recent days at Dublin Airport. Deputy Carthy said that the Transport Minister was ‘out of his depth.’

He said:

“This is some farce. We are here to make statements on transport and the Minister for Transport is not even here. He has left. The Minister of State who is here is not even assigned to the Department of Transport.

“When the Minister did speak, he spoke for 20 minutes without reference to the one aspect of transport policy that the whole country is talking about, the debacle at Dublin Airport.

“Even if we were to take into account the new language the Department has insisted we use, around accelerating sustainability and mobility, the Minister’s remarks simply tell me there are two realities in this country – the reality that goes on in Eamon Ryan’s head and the reality facing the real people of Ireland, constituents such as mine.

“I come from a county and a region that has no rail network and this Government has zero plans to change that. Anybody relying on public transport relies on the bus services, which are minimal at best. That is being generous.

“Unless you are going to Dublin city centre, there is virtually nowhere you can get a public bus to from my constituency. If people do decide to get the bus, the bus station is in an embarrassing state. Again, the Minister will not intervene in that regard.

“The people who travel by bus by and large have to travel by private operators. They get no benefit whatsoever from the so-called discounts for public transport. When the Government introduced a 50% reduction for young people last October, I challenged the Minister on the fact that that discount would not be available to many of my constituents. Nothing has been done since. When the 20% reduction across the board was introduced as a temporary so-called cost-of-living measure, it was again not applicable to many of the people I represent.

“The truth is that many people in Monaghan rely on their cars. While the cost of travelling to work or dropping children to school has been increasing, the Government has sat on its hands and introduced very few measures to target those costs. In fact, I would argue there are some people in government who are actually quite smug about the fact that fuel prices have increased.

“Our road network is in a deplorable state. Local roads across County Monaghan and similar counties are in a desperate state while the Government takes money from the road network to put into pet projects.

“There is no better example than the N2, which would be a major artery to the north west. This year, the Government removed money from the section of that road going from Clontibret to the Border and put it into the Minister’s pet projects.

“When pressure was exerted by Government Members from different parts of the country, unfortunately the Government representatives from Cavan-Monaghan must have stayed silent because the project has now been shelved, according to this Minister.

“The Minister is quite clearly out of his depth. I hope he will prove me wrong by starting to fund projects that will actually ensure people can drive to work after paying their road tax”.

ENDS

Increased costs to farmers leading to higher prices for everyone

Increased costs to farmers leading to higher prices for everyone – Matt Carthy TD

‘Food is the latest necessity to see substantial price hikes’. So said the Sinn Féin Agriculture spokesperson, Matt Carthy, during a Dáil debate where he criticised government failure to address the cost-of-living crisis facing workers and families.

Speaking on a Sinn Féin motion which called for supports to be directed at those who are hardest hit by food inflation, Deputy Carthy said that government actions have actually added to the soaring costs.

He said:

“The truth is that food is just the latest necessity to see substantial price hikes. That is not an accident. Farm input costs have been increasing dramatically for several months, indeed, for the past year, and the Government has failed to act adequately. It was warned that this would happen if it did not act.

“Costs of fuel, one very important input, have been rising. There are international factors at play, but the Government actually forced higher prices.

When government increased the carbon tax it increased the cost of producing food. When government increased the carbon tax it increased the cost of transporting food. Hey presto, food prices have soared.

“Then we hear a Minister of State tell us tonight that the Government will not be found wanting. Government has been found wanting on every single parameter when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis that so many workers and families are experiencing.

“We have advocated for years that we must freeze rents and put a month’s rent back into people’s pockets. The Government has refused to act.

“On mortgages, we had the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, calling for the European Central Bank to intervene, essentially calling for an interest rate hike.

“No action has been taken on childcare costs, one of the major costs facing many families, to date.

“We have seen token measures on energy. There was a €200 rebate, which was wiped out before it was even implemented.

“On fuel, the Government gives with one hand in terms of minimal excise reductions but then it takes with the other through increases in the carbon tax.

“As regards heating costs, government has done nothing whatsoever in respect of home heating oil other than to force the price higher through carbon taxes. Then there are its harebrained ideas to ban some sources of home heating fuel.

“The huge costs people are now enduring for food are again partly the result of this Government’s failure to act.

“What has been proposed so far to support families with rising food costs? Nothing yet.

“Listening to the remarks of the Ministers nobody can have confidence that this Government either understands the scale of the crisis people are facing or has any intention of acting appropriately.

“All this debate has reaffirmed to me and to anybody watching it is that it is time for a change. It is time for the policies that Pearse Doherty, Claire Kerrane and the Sinn Féin team have put forward.

“It is certainly time to get the Government out of office. It is time to allow Sinn Féin to provide the supports our families and workers so desperately need”.

ENDS