Economic Justice

Ireland needs your vision, not Fine Gael division and spiralling economic injustice

Our country is divided between those who have access to health care and those who don’t. It’s divided between those who have access to good housing and those who don’t. It’s divided between those who have access to a living wage and those who don’t. It’s divided between those who have safe communities and those who don’t. It’s divided by those who have access to the necessary infrastructure to prosper and those who don’t. It’s divided between rural and urban Ireland – between regional Ireland that is emptying and Dublin that is overheating.

Aontú, our party’s name, is Irish for ‘Unity’ and ‘Agreement’.

We chose that name because we seek to unify Ireland – not only north and south, but also east west. We want to live in a prosperous Ireland, but we also want genuine solidarity. We want a cohesive society and to help heal the deep divisions caused by the establishment.

A country of inequality

Across this nation, people are struggling more and more to make ends meet, whilst the government wastes millions of euro in Dublin and the Executive wastes millions of pounds in Belfast.

The Northern Executive refuse to make decisions that would help people with their bills, and stand by when London impose changes to welfare payments that will plunge many into poverty.

Cost of living crisis

North and South, parties would like you to believe that the cost of living crisis is over, that we have weathered the storm and come out the other end, yet prices are still rising on staple items of food and energy.  The Republic has the most expensive electricity in Europe, once blamed on the conflict in Ukraine, now people are seeing through government spin and inaction.

In the North, Stormont has sidestepped making changes to welfare that would protect the most vulnerable when London seeks to make changes to PIP, but they will still continue to pay millions to large companies to offset their rates bills.

Holiday Hunger

Despite the fact that the cost of living crisis has been putting pressure on families since mid 2021, the government is only now seeking to address holiday hunger – the provision of food for children during school holiday breaks that mean increased pressure on families who may be struggling.

In a recent survey carried out by Tesco with a sample of Family Resource Centres around the country, all (100%) respondents said they see an increased need for food supports during the summer months and the majority (77%) said there are children within their communities who do not have access to three meals a day. A pilot involving 1,000 students aged 10-18 is being managed by the DCEDIY for early 2025.

However, this is late and too small a scheme to make an impact. We also know that when pilot schemes are undertaken, that evaluations on their effectiveness can take many months before a decision is then made to roll it out of not. Families can’t wait.

Aontú in government will:

• Allocate €15m annually for the provision of holiday hunger schemes in Ireland either in the form of a specific benefit or through community schemes
• Convene a Holiday Hunger Forum of stakeholders to address how an integrated approach to holiday hunger alongside schools and community organisations can address the problem.

Aontú will lift families and communities out of poverty

• Aontú will provide an additional, second rate of means-tested child benefit. This additional payment would benefit 100,000 households. We estimate that introducing this payment would cost around €700 million per year.
• Aontú will deliver child benefit to mothers from 4 months of pregnancy which will cost €60,000,000 Childcare · Aontú will provide a cap for childcare costs of €100 a week. This will cost €200m.
• Aontú will provide more childcare places. We will do this through existing providers and by delivery through the public system with schools.
• We will make €3,000 childcare subvention available to mothers and fathers who choose to stay at home within the first 3 years of the child’s life. Family policy · Aontú will delete the means test for Carers Allowance. This will cost €450m a year.
• Increase the Home Carers’ Credit to equalise the tax treatment of one-income couples and two-income couples that was created by tax individualisation

Cost of Fuel

According to data released to Aontú the government collected €3.8 billion in tax on fuel last year, the highest amount collected in any year over the past decade. €107 million was derived from Carbon Tax on Natural Gas – which is the highest amount on record.

€2.4 Billion of it came from Mineral Oil Tax, while €19 Million came from Solid Fuel Carbon Tax and €4.2 Million from electricity tax. Given that these figures show that the tax intake isn’t taking a hit in relation to fuel, and is actually rising steadily, the government should halt the excise duty increases and work to reduce the tax rate given the enormous burden on families, farmers and commuters around the country.

Aontú in government would:

• Reverse the Increase in Excise Duty on petrol and diesel which will cost €45,000,000.
• Stall the carbon tax rises, until such time as the fuel price has consistently dropped and reverse the last rise.

Toll Charges

Since 2020 a total of €1.5 Billion has been collected at toll bridges around the country, according to figures released to Aontú under the Freedom of Information Act.

In 2023 alone, nearly €390 million euro was collected.

Aontú in Government will:

• Commit to ensuring no further toll increases over the next three years.
• Begin the process of purchasing toll bridges to ensure that government controls charges, and that any excess money brought in (which is beyond what is required to maintain the roads) will be used for the upkeep and maintenance of primary and secondary roads across the country.
• Scrutinise the accounts of the private operators with whom the government are in partnership.