Four Tests for Budget 2017 here
The Community Platform, an alliance of 29 national organisations, is calling for a Budget 2017 to reflect the promise in the Programme for Government to ‘deliver a fair society so that communities thrive’ through concrete measures and longer-term strategies to address inequality and poverty.
The Community Platform statement says:
Budget 2017 must have a progressive impact and the additional resources available to the Government must all be used to invest in adequate social welfare supports and critical public infrastructure. It must signal the beginning of a delivery on this Government’s commitment to social repair and the building of an inclusive recovery. 2
The Platform has outlined four test for the Budget:
- Will Budget 2017 redistribute income towards the poorest 20%
- Will Budget 2017 strengthen access to quality employment?
- Will Budget 2017 restore and strengthen public services which are of particular importance to people on low income?
- Will the impact of Budget 2017 be assessed to ensure that all provisions reduce poverty and inequality?
Speaking on behalf of the Community Platform Robin Hanan said:
“People on low incomes, women and minorities, who gained least in the boom years also suffered most in the recession. Almost three in ten of the population experience deprivation, because of unemployment, inadequate services and welfare supports and low quality jobs.
“This Budget must be used to undo the harm of austerity policies that have deepened poverty and inequality, incentivised low paid and insecure work, and increased discrimination. There is no evidence of recovery for many people and low income families are struggling to survive.
“The lack of investment in public services continues to undermine our society’s ability to ensure those with the least have adequate supports and access to essential tailored public services. This coupled with the decimation of the community sector is deeply worrying as communities across Ireland become more and more distanced from decision makers and policies that affect their lives.
“This budget needs to prioritise a renewal of public services and publicly funded services a progressive tax system which moves towards the EU norm of 40% to 45% of GDP; and to begin to level the playing field.”