Green Party TD – Steven Matthews welcomed another Budget focused on improving the lives of our children, families and the environment while also planning and providing for the future.
The Green Party-backed baby boost will see €420 paid to new mothers on the birth of their child. That comes on top of a €15 increase to child benefit and two double child benefit payments before Christmas worth €560. Children under-nine will also get free public transport and all primary school children will receive hot school meals every day for the first time. Leaving Certificate students will meanwhile benefit from free schoolbooks and the abolition of fees to sit the exams. Students in third level will see the cost of fees reduced and the quality of their education improved. Other family measures include increased access to IVF and free HRT.
Other Green measures include a €15m increase for the National Parks and Wildlife Service which is now 170% better funded than it was in 2020.
Deputy Matthews said:
“Every budget since the Greens took office has been aimed at making Ireland a fairer and more progressive country by supporting the people who need it most. This year is no exception. We have introduced measures to protect the environment and expand local bus routes. The warmer homes scheme will be increased by €90m while the scheme for low-income households will have a budget of €240m or ten times higher than it was in 2020. This is more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat.”
Turning to the long-term, Budget 2025 lays the foundations for massive investment in public transport, the national grid, water and housing. Both the proceeds of the sale of AIB shares and the money from the Apple judgement will be used to improve the country’s infrastructure and ensure that we are ready for a rising population and future energy shocks. This will improve services for existing homes and businesses and make it possible to build more homes in the right places across the country.
Another progressive measure introduced by the budget is the land hoarder’s tax to discourage land hoarding by developers of land that is serviced and ready to be used for new homes. This is an issue that the Green Party pushed consistently and ensured that this policy was enacted.
“I look forward to progressing these measures in the Finance Bill in the coming weeks and I will continue to do all I can to represent Wicklow for as long as I am elected to do so, concluded Deputy Matthews.
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