Fianna Fáil TD for Laois, Seán Fleming, has responded to Budget 2020. He said the issue of carbon tax has been to the forefront in this Budget and has called for transparency in how the Government spends the carbon tax.
Deputy Fleming said that it was unacceptable that nobody can say where the €4 billion collected since 2010 (over €400 million per annuum) in carbon taxes has been spent to date.
“It’s important that there be public accountability in how taxes paid by the public are being spent.
“As Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) I have invited a number of Government Departments and agencies to come before the committee to show how carbon tax is being spent.
Deputy Fleming also welcomed key measures secured by Fianna Fáil in Tuesday’s budget.
“I welcome the increase of one million home care hours. “I also welcome the €25 million increase in the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
“This is the fourth successive increase secured by Fianna Fáil as part of budget negotiations. We know that it is working.
“The inpatient day case list has fallen from a high of over 86,000 in 2017 to just under 69,000 in August as a result of this.
“This budget also provides for an additional 1,000 special needs assistants and over 400 additional teaching posts to support children with special educational needs.”
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