LABOUR leader Ivana Bacik has said the €500 rental tax credit announced in Budget 2023, while a welcome first step, is “still a drop in the ocean for renters”. Ms Bacik made the comments while speaking to The Echo during a visit to Cork this week.

Micheal Martin said the 11 billion euro budget unveiled earlier this week was designed to get the country through the winter period.

As part of Budget 2023 announced earlier this week, it was revealed that tenants who aren’t in receipt of any other State housing supports will receive an annual €500 tax credit starting this year.

Abolishing all inpatient hospital charges from next April was one of several key healthcare initiatives unveiled in Budget 2023

Cork Penny Dinners’ Caitríona Twomey warned that the Budget 2023 measures do not go far enough.

In addition to tackle the rising cost of living, a once off €500 lump sum will be paid out in November to some 350,000 people in receipt of the Carers Support Grant or Disability Payment.

The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced an extension to the current excise reduction of 21c per litre of petrol, 16c per litre of diesel and 5.4c per litre in respect of marked gas oil (green diesel).

President of the CBA Kevin Herlihy welcomed the supports announced but said that there will be “carnage” for those businesses that are reliant on the 9% VAT rate.

Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said he didn’t believe the measures went far enough to alleviate the pressures of families struggling with financial pressures.

Under the measure announced by Mr Donohoe, tenants are in line for tax relief of €500 this year with another €500 to come in 2023.

One line from the budget states that “€15 million is being provided to support for Cork City Council’s advancement of the Cork Events Centre project.” 

Among the measures announced on Tuesday include a cut to childcare costs, hike in welfare payments, supports for renters and energy credits for households

Delivering Budget 2023, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe said the scheme will be kept under review

Under the measure, tenants are in line for tax relief of €500 this year with another €500 to come in 2023

'PROGRESSIVE BUDGET'A Fianna Fáil City councillor has welcomed Budget 2023 as “progressive and protective”.

An enhanced Repair and Lease Scheme is one of ten priority areas identified in the Simon Communities of Ireland’s pre-budget submission.

CORK Business Association president Kevin Herlihy from Herlihy’s Centra and members of his executive recently met with Minister Simon Coveney, and separately with Minister Michael McGrath to outline concerns facing businesses in the city and ...

The business group also wants more progress on the made on the various apartment developments in the city centre

He also called for a 7.5% reduction in excise duty in 2023 which he said would cost the exchequer roughly €92.5 million

Speaking to The Echo, Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan said Budget 2023 will have to address the cost-of-living crisis. He said the blow of rising costs needs to be ‘cushioned’ for householders and business owners.

Among the personal requests, were some insightful thoughts on how the country is run and what the people of Ireland, and of course Cork need.

“There’s an energy crisis all over the world. Europe is suffering more than most, but there’s an energy crisis everywhere.

The Echo took to the streets of Cork ahead of Budget 2023 to ask people what they want to see announced on Tuesday to help them through the current cost of living crisis.

Cork Alliance Centre is looking for greater resources for former prisoners

Owner and manager of Glounthaune’s Generation Education, Irene Heredia Ariño said she has spoken with a number of parents who are considering reducing their child’s hours in pre-school due to inflation and cost of living concerns.

“Never before in my life have I seen so much hardship being experienced by the aged. It is almost impossible for them to exist from week to week, to have adequate food and heating," he said.

Childcare costs are proving a real struggle for Cork families

Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-Central, said he had been making representations to Cabinet and he was confident the scheme would be retained

Issues regarding school transport must also be rectified to take more cars off the road during rush hours, Mr Horgan said.

In the run-up to Budget 2023, The Echo is analysing various sectors of society and looking anonymously at their finances, how they are currently managing, as well as asking them what they would and would not like to see in the budget.

In the run-up to Budget 2023 The Echo looked at various sectors of society and looked anonymously at their finances, how they are currently managing, as well as, asking them what they would and would not like to see in the budget. Our financial diary series, which spans five days, will highlight the circumstances of a teacher with a family, a student, a construction worker, a remote IT worker and a managerial nurse ahead of Budget 2023 on September 27

Michael O’Donovan, who owns South Main Street's Castle Inn, said the VFI was calling on Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to put in place a substantial package of financial measures to help pubs survive the winter.

Owner of the Cornstore and Coqbull Restaurants Mike Ryan said a Vat increase could force businesses to shut their doors.

In conjunction with Simon Communities across Ireland, the Cork charity called on the Government to bring 5,000 vacant properties back into the market for social housing through the Repair & Lease Scheme.

He would not be drawn on whether the Government will consider capping energy prices.

Mr Martin said the Government will use the Budget in tandem with a once-off cost-of-living package to alleviate pressures on households and businesses. 

The Summer Economic Statement, announced yesterday by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, sets out the parameters for the Budget - which will now be held on September 27.