WATCH: Use Budget to scrap water charges, say Social Democrats
The Social Democrats have stated that if they were in power, they would scrap water charges in tomorrow's Budget - and it would only cost €13m.
The party said it would also cut the USC by 0.5%, reduce the property tax for mortgage holders, introduce a cap on childcare fees, and impose a tax on junk food and levies on bonds and AIB pensions.
The plan would deliver 3,000 more teachers, 900 primary healthcare workers, extend parental leave by 10 weeks, give two weeks paid paternity leave, and deliver 100 megabites of broadband to schools, the party said.
Full @socdems budget submission available here: https://t.co/cjHjEN2Xww #socdems
— Niall Ó Tuathail (@niallotuathail) October 12, 2015
Joint leader, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, said that their version of the Budget is revenue neutral.
"We don't believe that in a growing economy, the tax base should be destabilised," he said.
"That is exactly what Fianna Fáil did in the bubble, and it seems their counterparts are determined to repeat that mistake tomorrow.
"By applying a small number of levies, we have created the revenue space to dot he following: reduce USC, abolish the domestic water charges, reduce the property tax for mortgage holders, and provide a tax credit of €825 to the self-employed."
