Waterford politicians divided over giveaway budget
The budget was announced last week, but what are they giving away to Waterford? Stock photo
Deputy Jack Chambers, the youngest Minister for Finance in more than 100 years, announced his Budget in Dáil Éireann last week in what has been hailed as a giveaway Budget. But what are they giving away to Waterford?
Matt Shanahan, Independent TD for Waterford, said, “At €10.1 billion, it is an enormous amount of money being circulated. Hopefully, some of that money will find its way to projects in Waterford and if that happens that will certainly bring some benefits. It’s a pity nothing was announced by way of the [proposed Waterford] airport, SETU, Waterford Port or upgrades to the N24 and N25."
Asked if there was anything he was disappointed to see excluded from the Budget, Shanahan singled out the lack of support for food hospitality. He further noted that “the Government offered nothing to guarantee 24/7, engineering building [at] SETU, nothing for the airport and nothing to signal increased renewables development in the South East.”
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh said his party had “fought hard for the inclusion of the ‘Baby Boost’”, a lump sum payment of child benefit paid one time to the parents of a newborn child to help with bills.
“This is a Budget for families, for children and for the world they grow up in – it is a Budget that provides help at every stage in a person’s life,” said Ó Cathasaigh.
Asked what budgetary measures would have the most impact, Ó Cathasaigh said: “The yearly Budget isn’t really the place where you look for constituency-specific funding – capital allocations are more important in that respect.
"While we got good news on the veterinary course for SETU last month, decisions on pharmacy and the long-awaited engineering building are still outstanding, something I put to the Minister of Finance this week in the Dáil.”
Senator John Cummins believes Budget 2025 will benefit working families and parents across Waterford the most.
“This Budget seeks to put more money back in people’s pockets at a time when they need it most. This Budget will deliver a series of targeted measures, while also continuing the trend we have fought for in government, which is to expand universal supports for all," he said.
