Westmeath td praises prudent but generous budget

Westmeath TD Willie Penrose welcomed what he called a 'prudent but generous budget,' saying it marked the beginning of a recovery in the economy.

'It is only right that the benefits of the economic recovery should be shared with those who suffered from the collapse in our national finances. Families, older people and low and middle income workers will benefit from the measures in this Budget,' said the Labour representative from Ballynacargy.

He highlighted a number of points in the budget for 2015, mentioning in particular:

* €2.2 billion capital investment for social housing provision for the next three years with €800 million of this being allocated for the housing programme in 2015

* The Universal Social Charge adjustment will exempt a further 80,000 workers from the USC and the lower rates have been cut. The standard tax rate band has been widened by €1,000 to €33,800, taking 33,000 out of the top rate.

* €5 increase in the monthly rate of Child Benefit

* Payment of a 25% Christmas Bonus in 2014

* 1,700 additional new full time posts in our schools comprising 920 mainstream teachers, 480 resource teachers and 365 special needs assistants.

Deputy Penrose said: 'This is a first step on the path to economic recovery, and the recovery means nothing until citizens and taxpayers feel it in their own finances. Written all over this budget is the Labour Party stamp of sharing prosperity and reducing income inequality.”