BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

SINN FÉIN’S ALTERNATIVE BUDGET 2025

Building a Better Future

Sinn Féin is driven by our determination to make Ireland a better place to raise a family and build a future. That means supporting workers, families and communities. It means making housing affordable and bringing home ownership back within reach for working people. It means delivering €10 a day childcare to lift a burden of high childcare costs from parents. It means ensuring the lowest paid workers get a pay rise and cutting the USC for all workers because we know that it isn’t fair that ordinary hardworking people continue to pay this tax which is a legacy of Fianna Fáil crashing the economy.

Sinn Féin will do things differently. That is what we show in this alternative budget. We won’t waste your money. We will invest in the things that matter to you – in housing, in childcare, in health and in communities.

Every year Sinn Féin publishes a comprehensive, fully costed set of budget proposals. No other opposition party provide the level of detail for voters. We do this to show how from day one in government we will deliver real change for you, for your family and for your community.

MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLE

Sinn Féin has a plan to make housing affordable and to bring homeownership back within reach of working people.  We believe in the power of housing to transform people’s lives and deliver a more fair and equal society. That is why it is our number 1 priority.

We will move heaven and earth to stand up for renters and deliver homes for working people. That means banning rent increases, putting a month’s rent back in renters’ pockets, building social and affordable homes at scale and ending the housing crisis.

For too long housing has been used to the benefit of big landlords and developers. Sinn Féin has a plan to make housing affordable and to bring homeownership within reach of working people. We will deliver 300,000 new homes over the lifetime of the next government.

Too many people have delayed starting a family because they do not have a secure home. Delivering affordable housing is only one way we will support you and your family.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

Key to supporting families is affordable childcare. To deliver this Sinn Féin will give all parents access to childcare at €10 a day per child. This will be a game-changer for families and the sector.

Sinn Féin promise to support families every step of the way with this family-focused set of budget proposals. Starting with Parental Leave and Benefit so every child can be cared for by a parent for the first year of their life.

We will reduce the cost on parents in primary and secondary school by phasing out voluntary contributions, extending hot meals to all primary schools, commencing roll out to secondary schools, providing free schoolbooks for senior cycle, expanding and reforming school transport.

We know that the cost of raising a family doesn’t stop when a child turns 18. We will deliver affordable student accommodation and abolish fees for third level starting with a €1,500 reduction and immediately scrapping fees for apprenticeships.

THE CRISIS IS NOT OVER

The cost-of-living crisis is not over and that is why Sinn Féin are proposing a comprehensive cost of living package of €2.3 billion euros to kick in this year and help people through the winter.

Workers are worse off in real terms than when this government came to power. Pensioners, carers, people with disabilities are all worse off today than 4 years ago. Wages and core social supports have not kept pace with inflation.

Budget 2025 must focus on making life affordable for workers and families into the future. We would make permanent reforms to make a lasting difference in people’s lives. The government have short-changed people and left many worse off.

We will prioritise households over profits. Government allowed Banks and energy companies to make eye-watering profits at the expense of workers and families over the last few years. That would not happen under a Sinn Féin government.

FAIRNESS FOR WORKERS

Key to addressing the cost of living is making sure we spend and tax in a fair way. Sinn Féin would deliver a fair tax package for workers. We will cut USC for all workers.

We will stop the regressive consumption-based tax increases such as Carbon Tax. We will abolish the local property tax on your home over 5 years. We will ensure a fair and balanced tax system that puts money back in workers pockets.

Sinn Fein will show there is a fairer way to tax and spend, to invest in strong public services and give workers and families a break.

Also crucial to alleviate the pressure for workers is ensuring all workers get fair wages, in particular that low paid workers get a pay rise. That means increasing the minimum wage.

DELIVERING BETTER HEALTH SERVICES

This alternative budget presents the first year of a multi-annual plan to reform and fund health. With a Sinn Féin government, funding and reform would go hand in hand.

This will allow us to take big bold steps towards universal healthcare, upgrade and expand local health services, drive major reform of hospital care, revolutionise youth mental health, and deliver a rights-based approach to disability services.

Sinn Féin will deliver a significant expansion in bed capacity in our hospitals and community settings to tackle the trolley crisis and reduce waiting lists. We will make healthcare accessible and affordable.

FISCAL STRATEGY

Sinn Féin will ensure that spending and taxation will be done in a fair and balanced way. This will be always guided by the need to increase equality and reduce poverty. Investing in strong public services is the best way to strengthen our society and economy.

Sinn Fein knows that the best way to secure our future is by investing today. Sinn Féin would use windfall corporation taxes for capital investment. We would use windfall taxes to build housing and infrastructure at scale.

TODHCHAÍ NÍOS FEARR A THÓGÁIL

Tá Sinn Féin á thiomáint ag ár dtiomantas áit níos fearr a dhéanamh d’Éirinn chun teaghlach a thógáil agus todhchaí a thógáil. Ciallaíonn sin tacaíocht a thabhairt d’oibrithe, do theaghlaigh agus do phobail. Tithíocht a dhéanamh inacmhainne agus úinéireacht tí a thabhairt ar ais do dhaoine atá ag obair atá i gceist. Tá i gceist leis cúram leanaí €10 in aghaidh an lae a chur ar fáil chun an t-ualach costas arda cúraim leanaí a mhaolú ar thuismitheoirí. Tá i gceist leis a chinntiú go bhfaighidh na hoibrithe is ísle pá ardú pá agus an MSU a ghearradh ar gach oibrí mar tá a fhios againn nach bhfuil sé cóir gnáthdhaoine atá ag obair go dian a bheith ag íoc na cánach sin ar oidhreacht í den tobchliseadh a thug Fianna Fáil don gheilleagar.

Déanfaidh Sinn Féin rudaí ar bhealach difriúil. Is é sin a léirímid sa bhuiséad malartach seo. Ní chuirfimid do chuid airgid amú. Déanfaimid infheistíocht sna nithe is cás leat – i dtithíocht, i gcúram leanaí, i sláinte agus i bpobail.

Gach bliain foilsíonn Sinn Féin sraith chuimsitheach de thograí buiséid atá costáilte go hiomlán. Ní sholáthraíonn aon pháirtí freasúra eile an leibhéal sonraí do vótálaithe. Déanaimid é sin chun a léiriú go gcuirfimid fíor-athrú ar fáil duitse, do do theaghlach agus do do phobal, ón gcéad lá sa rialtas.

TITHÍOCHT A DHÉANAMH INACMHAINNE

Tá plean ag Sinn Féin tithíocht a dhéanamh inacmhainne agus úinéireacht tí a thabhairt ar ais chun go mbeidh teacht ag daoine atá ag obair uirthi. Creidimid i gcumhacht na tithíochta chun saol daoine a athrú ó bhonn agus sochaí níos cothroime a chur ar fáil. Sin é an fáth gurb é ár dtosaíocht uimhir 1 é.

Ní spárálfaimid dua ar bith orainn féin chun an fód a sheasamh ar son cíosóirí agus déanfaimid a sholáthar tithe do dhaoine atá ag obair. Ciallaíonn sé sin cosc a chur ar mhéaduithe cíosa, cíos míosa a chur ar ais i bpócaí na gcíosóirí, tithe sóisialta agus inacmhainne a thógáil ar scála agus deireadh a chur leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta.

Baineadh úsáid as tithíocht ró-fhada chun leasa tiarnaí talún agus forbróirí móra. Tá plean ag Sinn Féin tithíocht a dhéanamh inacmhainne agus úinéireacht tí a chur ar fáil do dhaoine atá ag obair.

Cuirfimid 300,000 teach nua ar fáil thar shaolré an chéad rialtais eile. Tá an iomarca daoine tar éis moill a chur ar theaghlach a thosú toisc nach bhfuil teach slán acu. Níl i dtithíocht inacmhainne a sheachadadh ach bealach amháin a thacóimid leat féin agus le do
theaghlach.

TACAÍOCHT DO THEAGHLAIGH AGUS DO LEANAÍ

Tá cúram leanaí inacmhainne ríthábhachtach chun tacú le teaghlaigh. Chun é sin a sheachadadh tabharfaidh Sinn Féin rochtain do gach tuismitheoir ar chúram leanaí ar €10 in aghaidh an lae in aghaidh an linbh. Athrú ó bhonn a bheidh ann do theaghlaigh agus don earnáil. Geallann Sinn Féin tacaíocht a thabhairt do theaghlaigh gach céim den bhealach leis an tsraith seo de thograí buiséid atá dírithe ar theaghlaigh. Ag tosú le Saoire agus Sochar do Thuismitheoirí ionas gur féidir le tuismitheoir aire a thabhairt do gach leanbh don chéad bhliain dá saol.

Laghdóimid an costas ar thuismitheoirí i mbunscoileanna agus i meánscoileanna trí dheireadh a chur le ranníocaíochtaí deonacha de réir a chéile, béilí te a leathnú chuig gach bunscoil, agus rolladh amach chuig meánscoileanna a thosú, leabhair scoile saor in aisce a sholáthar don tsraith shinsearach, iompar scoile a leathnú agus a athchóiriú.

Tá a fhios againn nach stopann an costas a bhaineann le teaghlach a thógáil nuair a bhaineann leanbh 18 mbliana d’aois amach. Cuirfimid lóistín inacmhainne ar fáil do mhic léinn agus cuirfimid deireadh le táillí don tríú leibhéal ag tosú le laghdú 1,500 euro agus cuirfimid deireadh láithreach le táillí do phrintíseachtaí.

NÍL AN GHÉARCHÉIM THART

Níl deireadh leis an ngéarchéim costas maireachtála agus is é sin an fáth go bhfuil Sinn Féin ag moladh pacáiste cuimsitheach costas maireachtála de 2.3 billiún euro chun tús a chur leis i mbliana agus cabhrú le daoine tríd an ngeimhreadh.

Tá oibrithe níos measa as i dtéarmaí réadacha ná mar a bhí nuair a tháinig an rialtas seo i gcumhacht. Tá pinsinéirí, cúramóirí, daoine faoi mhíchumas níos measa as inniu ná mar a bhí ceithre bliana ó shin. Níor choinnigh pá agus tacaíochtaí sóisialta suas leis an mboilsciú.

Ní mór do Bhuiséad 2025 díriú ar an saol a dhéanamh inacmhainne d’oibrithe agus do theaghlaigh amach anseo. Dhéanfaimis athchóirithe buana chun difríocht mharthanach a dhéanamh i saol daoine. Níl a gcirt tugtha ag an rialtas do dhaoine agus tá a lán daoine níos measa as anois.

Tabharfaimid tús áite do theaghlaigh thar bhrabúis. Cheadaigh an Rialtas do Bhainc agus do chomhlachtaí fuinnimh brabúis airgead millteach a thuilleamh as costas oibrithe agus teaghlaigh le blianta beaga anuas agus ní tharlódh sin faoi rialtas Shinn Féin.

COTHROIME D’OIBRITHE

Tá sé ríthábhachtach aghaidh a thabhairt ar an gcostas maireachtála chun a chinntiú go gcaithimid agus go ngearraimid cáin ar bhealach cothrom. Chuirfeadh Sinn Féin pacáiste cothrom cánach ar fáil d’oibrithe. Déanfaimid MSU a ghearradh ar gach oibrí.

Cuirfimid deireadh leis na méaduithe cánach aischéimnitheacha atá bunaithe ar thomhaltas, amhail Cáin Charbóin. Cuirfimid deireadh leis an gcáin mhaoine ar do theach thar 5 bliana. Cinnteoimid córas cánach cothrom agus cóir a chuireann airgead ar ais i bpócaí oibrithe. Léireoidh Sinn Féin go bhfuil bealach níos cothroime ann chun cáin a ghearradh agus a chaitheamh, chun infheistíocht a dhéanamh i seirbhísí poiblí láidre agus chun sos a thabhairt d’oibrithe agus do theaghlaigh.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá sé ríthábhachtach don bhrú ar oibrithe a áirithiú go bhfaighidh gach oibrí pá cothrom, go háirithe go bhfaighidh oibrithe ar phá íseal ardú pá. Ciallaíonn sé sin, ar an gcéad dul síos, an t-íosphá a mhéadú.

SEIRBHÍSÍ SLÁINTE NÍOS FEARR A CHUR AR FÁIL

Cuirtear i láthair sa bhuiséad malartach seo an chéad bhliain de phlean ilbhliantúil chun sláinte a athchóiriú agus a mhaoiniú. Le rialtas Shinn Féin, bheadh maoiniú agus leasú fite fuaite ina chéile.

Cuirfidh sé sin ar ár gcumas céimeanna móra misniúla a ghlacadh i dtreo cúram sláinte uilíoch, seirbhísí sláinte áitiúla a uasghrádú agus a leathnú, athchóiriú mór ar chúram ospidéil a spreagadh, meabhairshláinte na n-óg a athrú ó bhonn, agus cur chuige atá bunaithe ar chearta a sholáthar i leith seirbhísí míchumais.

Déanfaidh Sinn Féin leathnú suntasach ar acmhainn leapacha inár n-ospidéil agus inár suímh pobail chun dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim tralaí agus chun liostaí feithimh a laghdú. Déanfaimid cúram sláinte inrochtana agus inacmhainne.

STRAITÉIS FHIOSCACH

Cinnteoidh Sinn Féin go ndéanfar caiteachas agus cánachas ar bhealach cóir agus cothrom. Beidh sé seo á threorú i gcónaí ag an ngá atá le comhionannas a mhéadú agus bochtaineacht a laghdú. Infheistíocht i seirbhísí poiblí láidre, sin an bealach is fearr chun ár sochaí agus ár ngeilleagar a neartú.

Tá a fhios ag Sinn Féin gurb é an bealach is fearr chun ár dtodhchaí a chinntiú ná trí infheistíocht a dhéanamh inniu. Ní bhainfeadh Sinn Féin úsáid ach as cánacha corparáideacha amhantair le haghaidh infheistíocht chaipitil. Bhainfimis úsáid as cánacha amhantair chun tithíocht agus bonneagar a thógáil ar scála.

FINANCE STRATEGY

Sinn Féin will ensure that spending and taxation will be done in a fair and balanced way. This will be always guided by the need to increase equality and reduce poverty. Sinn Féin know that investing in strong public services is the best way to strengthen our society and economy.

Every year we see government failing to adequately fund stand still costs. They underprovide for Existing Levels of Services (ELS) expenditure so that they can use the money to announce new measures. This is no way to manage the public finances or public services.

Sinn Féin would ensure existing services are adequately funded. Sinn Féin would allocate €2.5 billion in ELS. We understand that all improvements and new measures need additional resources and should not be brought in to the detriment of existing services.

Sinn Fein knows that the best way to secure our future is by investing today. Sinn Féin would use windfall corporation taxes for capital investment. We would use windfall taxes to build housing and infrastructure at scale. We would not use this source of income to cover recurring Current expenditure.

The government have for far failed to meet its own target outlined in the National Development Plan of investing 5% of GNI* in capital projects on average. The underinvestment is approximately 7.6
billion over 4 years (2021 – 2024).

Under our budget plan the General Government Balance will be in surplus.
This fiscal strategy is a balanced and responsible approach to managing the public finance while being ambitious for the future.