Welfare hikes, music lessons and €1.9bn for roads: Rural Independents’ draft budget wish-list

A €30 increase in weekly social welfare payments, the abolition of the Universal Social Charge (USC), a freeze in Carbon Tax rate, and investment in roads are among measures the Rural Independent Group (RIG) may include in their pre-Budget submission.

The group’s draft pre-budget submission was circulated to the media in error on Friday afternoon.

The accompanying email from a RIG adviser asks those contacted for feedback on the document by Tuesday September 19th.

The document outlines several possible budget demands for the TDs – Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Carol Nolan, Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae and Richard O’Donoghue – to consider.

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These include an “immediate €30 increase in core social welfare payments” and abolishing the USC.

There is a proposal to boost Ireland’s savings culture with the establishment of an “Irish tax-free savings account”.

Other measures would be the strengthening of the Carer’s Support Grant to €2,500, up from €1,850, and equalising the jobseekers’ rates for all under 25-year-olds.

Freezing carbon tax rates would “alleviate the burden on motorists, farmers and individuals grappling with escalating fuel costs”.

There is also a call to allocate an energy credit of at least €600 to households.

Agriculture measures include a “dedicated €35 per ewe scheme”; an additional €300 million in funding for Areas of Natural Restraint (ANCs) and a commitment that there would be no capping of the suckler cow herd.

[ Miriam Lord: The Roaring Rural Independents stand up for the sacred cows ]

A statutory “rural-proofing unit” would be created to “promote equitable development across the country”.

There is a call for a €1.9 million investment in roads to recognise that they are “the lifelines of rural communities”.

Education proposals include universal musical instruction, compulsory first aid and CPR training for Leaving Certificate students and an opportunity for them to take the driver theory test before leaving school.

[ Grace Tallon: Music education must be available to every child regardless of geography and class ]

[ Budget 2024: What measures will we see - from tax and childcare cuts to electricity credits? ]

There is a call for the immediate release of €1.4 billion to help increase Ireland’s social housing stock and for the Help-to-Buy scheme to be expanded to include first-time buyers that wish to buy a second-hand home.

Another idea is the redistribution of the TV licence fee “to support all broadcasters, including local radio stations, to promote fairness and inclusivity in the broadcasting landscape”.

There is also a proposal for a referendum on the broadcasting funding model as a way of letting the public have a say on “the future of public service broadcasting and funding”.

The document says: “These recommendations prioritise the needs and aspirations of rural Ireland in Budget 2024. We are committed to fighting for rural communities and building a stronger, more equitable future for all.”

A spokesman for the RIG said: “These are only draft internal considerations at present and are not settled RIG pre-budgetary positions.”

Many political parties and groupings as well as lobbyists and non-governmental organisations make pre-budget submissions each year hoping to influence the Government’s deliberations.

Members of the RIG are often highly critical of the Government and they are not among the independent TDs that frequently back the Coalition in crunch Dáil votes, bolstering its tight majority.

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has signalled that the Government would be looking to increase the State pension in next month’s budget.

Speaking after a trip to Israel and Palestine on Friday, Mr Martin said:

“Pensioners had a challenging time in terms of the cost of living. We did, I think, a significant package last year for pensioners with both the cost of living package and the budget. So yes, we will be looking at increasing the pension.

“But again, I think it’s important that we look after pensioners and our senior citizens. Michael McGrath will deliver this budget. He’s putting a lot of work into it. And it will cover a wide range of areas. We don’t have a precise figure.”