There’'s been a mixed reaction to Budget 2017, – with the Construction Industry welcoming the help to buy scheme, but people with disabilities describing it a missed opportunity.
Juliette Gash has been taking the temperature of the interest groups;
Barnardos said; Solid investment in sustainable childcare and some new housing solutions are welcome, but not enough to demonstrate the Government is truly committed to ending child poverty. Piecemeal popularist measures suggest the Government is trying too hard to please too many instead of showing strong leadership and making wise, long-term investments dedicated to support all children to achieve their potential.
#Budget2017 is mixed bag. Welcome #childcare package & social welfare increases but nothing to tackle school costs. https://t.co/EiquWuKTWf
— June Tinsley (@june_tinsley) October 11, 2016
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has said the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme announced in Budget 2017 will have very little impact on the housing crisis because supply is the problem, not demand.Claire Solon, the President of the SCSI said “In our view, the Government should have been focussing on initiatives to make development viable, like reducing VAT on affordable housing, making public land available for affordable housing schemes and providing finance to help kick-start building on sites around the country, with all the employment and tax benefits that this would bring.”
President Claire Solon waiting to go on air #Budget2017 pic.twitter.com/agLjedrztA
— CharteredSurveyors (@SCSISurveyors) October 11, 2016
The Tourism sector and childrens' advocates are welcoming the Budget, but the Alcohol Beverage Sector was hoping for a cut in excise.
Advocates for older people said it's a step in the right direction;
