Greens welcome budget, but claim 'Socialist' provisions clearly part of Government electoral strategy

"Does anybody really believe that the Fianna Fail party has undergone a total change of values" asks Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca. "The Government is obviously prepared to move away from its free-market economic policies which favour the rich over the next few years, in order to get re-elected."

The Green Party has welcomed the provisions of the new budget, which sees disabled people and those on social welfare being prioritised. "The 900 million disability package outlined in the Budget will be delivered on o0ver the next three years" says de Burca. "It will result in more than 4,500 residential, respite and day places for disabled people which of course will be welcomed by organisations like Rehabcare, and Enable Ireland in Wicklow".

De Burca has expressed her disappointment however that as little as 400 community-based mental health places will be provided nationally. "This will mean approximately 12-15 such places for County Wicklow where there is a real shortage of community-based services for sufferers with mental health problems, particularly those who are discharged from Newcastle Hospital into the community" she says.

De Burca claims that while the Budget allocates funding on making public buildings, parks amenities and heritage sites more accessible to people with disabilities, it does not address the issue of accessible homes for the elderly and disabled people. "We have a crisis currently in the Disabled Person's Housing Grant in Wicklow with unacceptably long waiting lists, and without sufficient levels of staff to even visit an individual's home and assess their need to have their home adapted. This has not been addressed by the Budget".

The Green Party has welcomed the generous measures targeted at farmers in this year's Budget, which amount to approximately 20 million euros. "We particularly welcome the write- off period for capital investment on necessary investment in pollution control facilites which will certainly help Wicklow farmers to comply with the EU Nitrates Directive" says de Burca.

Councillor de Burca has also strongly supported the Budget provision which will allow first-time buyers of second-hand properties to pay no duty on houses up to the value of 317,500 euros. "Given the ridiculously high price of new and second-hand houses for hard-pressed first-time buyers in Wicklow and elsewhere, this budget provision is especially welcome" says de Burca "However, the Government has disappointed by only promising 5,500 new social housing in 2005, as opposed to the 10,000 social houses that could easily be developed if there was enough political will at national and local levels of government".

The Greens claim that the elderly in County Wicklow will be glad to see the State's old age pension increase by 12 euros per week, raising contributory pensions to 179.30 euros weekly and non-contributory pensions to 166.00 euros weekly. "However, this increases may mean little if the Government continues the pattern of stealth taxes of the past few years, including likely increases in gas and ESB charges, waste charges, bus fares etc." says de Burca.

Finally the Green Party councillor has strongly condemned the failure of the Budget to include any serious environmental measures. "There is nothing in this Budget for suppliers of alternative energy despite the need to insulate this country from rising oil prices by promoting alternatives to oil" she says."Furthermore, the Budget included no tax incentives for organic food production or recycling schemes. It contains little new investment in public transport, something that County Wicklow badly needs if we are to help its many commuters in Arklow, Wicklow Town and Greystones to have an alternative to sitting in traffic gridlock every day" she says.

For further information please contact:

Deirdre de Burca on 086-806 1450; email: deburca@wicklowgreens.org