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Policy Briefing on Budget Choices 2010
Social Justice Ireland's fully costed alternative Budget shows how Government could reduce borrowing by €3bn whle protecting the vulnerable in Budget 2011
Budget 2011 should eliminate tax breaks that mostly benefit the better off, should ensure the corporate sector makes a contribution towards rectifying Ireland’s current crisis, should take action to reduce the live-register by 100,000 in 2011, should tackle the working poor problem and increase social welfare rates for Ireland’s most vulnerable people. This would result in Government borrowing being reduced by €3bn while producing a stimulus package of more than €1.1bn in 2011.
Social Justice Ireland proposes that in Budget 2011 Government should:
- Standard rate the tax-break for pension contributions;
- Address the working poor issue by making tax credits refundable;
- Introduce a Part-Time Job Opportunities Programme that would produce real part-time jobs for 100,000 unemployed people on a voluntary basis;
- Introduce an income-contingent loan facility which would enable all third-level students borrow money to pay fees and cover their living costs;
- Increase funding for primary level education and adult literacy programmes;
- Provide substantial support for developing an integrated healthcare model through supporting primary care teams, older people and children and family programmes;
- Increase all social welfare rates;
- Introduce a levy on corporate sector profits;
- Move towards meeting the UN target for Ireland’s Third World Aid Budget
- Introduce some tax reform;
- Ensure progressive redistribution;
- Produce a fairer sharing of the burden;
- Address the working poor issue;
- Produce real part-time jobs for 100,000 unemployed people;
- Protect the vulnerable
- Make progress towards a better healthcare system;
- Produce greater equity in the education system;
- Move towards attaining the UN target for supporting the world’s poorest people;
- Ensure the corporate sector would also make some small contribution towards rectifying Ireland’s current situation.
- Produce a stimulus package worth more than €1.1bn in 2011.