Waterford school caretaker says 'weak' budget will change nothing for him

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

A school caretaker has said Budget 2026 does nothing for workers and will not make a difference to him.

David Hearne, who has been a caretaker in a Waterford primary school for eight years, said the cost of groceries and materials have increased dramatically over the past few years.

He has been at the forefront of the Forsa union’s campaign for pay and pensions parity with other school staff and said he hopes “we would get over the line” on that issue.

Mr Hearne got married to his partner Brona and bought a house last year, which has taken a year to renovate.

I think they could have done a lot more for the worker. There was nothing there for the wages that we are on, the taxes

“The cost of energy, gas and electricity is phenomenal, and groceries,” he said.

“Just getting lunches and dinners we spend €120-€130 on groceries a week, and that’s just what we absolutely need. We go to Aldi, we don’t go to Tescos, and it’s €120 a week.”

He said the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity until December 31st, 2030 would be a “huge” help with bills.

He also said he hoped the reduction for hospitality businesses would help them afford to go out for a meal, as he finds being able to afford the cinema difficult at the moment.

“It means that we won’t be having to face that increase when we go in for a sandwich and a cup of tea. So that’s good now.”

He added: “I think they could have done a lot more for the worker. There was nothing there for the wages that we are on, the taxes. I know the USC (universal social charge) has the 2 per cent up a level, but my fuel expenses are going up again with the carbon tax.”

The 2 per cent rate band for USC is to rise by €1,318 to €28,700, while the carbon tax beginning for auto fuels from Wednesday and all other fuels on May 1 next year will increase to 71 euros per tonne of CO2 emitted.

“I don’t think there was enough in it for the ordinary worker to come out better,” he said.

Hopefully now this will mean any fundraiser done within the school, 100% of the funding will go back into the kids, on sports equipment and days out instead of going to pay the electricity bill or the gas bill

“I haven’t seen anything about the cost-of-living package. There’s nothing there to show that they’ve done something for the ordinary worker to try and help sustain the basics: the bread, the milk, the eggs.

“I didn’t see anything like that in there.”

He said the lack of changes would make things difficult over the coming months.

“I’m on 15c above minimum wage, I’m working 42 hours a week, I’m still not taking home a huge wage. I have a mortgage and bills to pay.

“For me, I don’t think the Budget has done anything.”

Mr Hearne welcomed the increase in capitation grants for schools as a “huge step in the right direction”.

There will be a €50 increase for primary and special schools to €274, and a €20 boost for secondary schools to €406.

“That is phenomenal, that is going to make a huge, huge difference to our school.

“We do fundraisers with the aim that they go straight to the kids. Over the last number of years we’ve been left with no option but to use that money to pay for bills in the school because we were in the red.

“So hopefully now this will mean any fundraiser done within the school, 100 per cent of the funding will go back into the kids, on sports equipment and days out instead of going to pay the electricity bill or the gas bill.”