Donohoe delivers cautious budget amid no-deal Brexit fears

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe presented a cautious budget on Tuesday that abandoned plans for income tax cuts and declined to repeat the welfare increases that had become customary on budget day, citing the need to prepare for an increasingly likely no-deal Brexit.

Mr Donohoe conceded on Tuesday night it was a mostly standstill budget which would make little difference to most people’s finances.

The budget, which all sides in the Dáil agreed would be the last of the current administration before a general election next year, included €1.2 billion of provisions for a no-deal Brexit, adding to a total spending bill of €70 billion next year.

There was also, as expected, an increase in the carbon tax which will add 2c to a litre of petrol and diesel, though increases to home heating fuels will not come into effect until next May.

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There were no cuts to personal income tax, despite pledges by the Taoiseach at last year’s Fine Gael ardfheis and an expectation in the party that tax cuts would be a centrepiece of the party’s general election platform. There were also no general welfare increases, though a range of allowances will see increases.

Mr Donohoe raised additional revenue through increases to commercial stamp duty and adding a further 50c to the price of a packet of cigarettes. This enabled him to exceed the spending figures previously indicated by the Government, enlarging the size of the budget day package to €2.9 billion in net terms.

Despite the lack of welfare increases, public spending will continue to grow strongly next year at a rate of 3.5 per cent, driven by the cost of demographic changes, a €1 billion increase in the health budget and rising public sector pay and pension costs.

‘Trend growth’

Although economic growth is forecast to slow sharply to 0.7 per cent, Mr Donohoe defended the growth in spending, with officials adding that it was important to consider the “trend growth” of the economy, which was in the 4-5 per cent range.

Health spending will now grow to €18.3 billion next year, its highest-ever level, with further recruitment scheduled for 2020. There will also be funding for 1 million extra home help hours, a reduction in prescription charges, and moves to provide more medical cards for the over-70s. Health will now account for 28 per cent of all current spending, while social protection will make up over a third (34 per cent).

The Greens and the Social Democrats criticised insufficient action on climate change

There was money for more gardaí, teachers, 1,000 special needs assistants and other public sector recruitment.

The public pay bill will grow by 5.2 per cent to €19 billion, an increase of more than €900 million, while pensions head for the €3 billion mark, a growth of 5.8 per cent. These figures take account of pay increases due to public servants next year under the public sector pay deal. Mr Donohoe said he expected the deal to last until the end of next year, and has made no provision for a new deal next year.

Perceived failures

Opposition parties criticised the budget for a variety of perceived failures. The Greens and the Social Democrats criticised insufficient action on climate change, while Labour attacked the budget for failing those on social welfare, the minimum wage, renters and pensioners.

Sinn Féin's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said Budget 2020 is "short on ideas, short on policies and short on solutions".

Fianna Fáil welcomed some aspects of the budget for which the party claimed credit, but sharply criticised the Government’s overall approach.

The party’s finance spokesman Michael McGrath warned of “potentially a huge black hole in the public finances”.

Public expenditure spokesman Barry Cowen slammed Fine Gael’s record of “overspends and missed deadlines” and said the party was “like a stressed-out student staying up late the night before Leaving Cert English paper one, Fine Gael are desperate to make up for lost time”.