Govt’s 2006 Budget plans receive mixed response
There has been a mixed response to the Budget for 2006, which was presented to the Dáil yesterday by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.
Mr Cowen announced €4.4bn in spending measures, bringing total planned spending for next year to over €50bn, an 11% increase on 2004.
The plans include significant new supports for childcare, increases in social welfare payments and old age pensions and a widening of the tax bands.
Several groups working with the poor, the elderly and the low paid have welcomed the initiatives, but the opposition parties have accused Mr Cowen of not going far enough given the vast sums of money available to him.
