Increased weekly welfare payments, proposals to tax the windfall profits of energy companies and a suite of measures aimed at promoting cycling – including a scrappage scheme for cars – will be among the alternative budget proposals unveiled by the Labour Party on Thursday.
Ivana Bacik’s party is expected to propose measures to tackle child poverty – including phased increases in core weekly welfare payments of more than €25.
Measures aimed at boosting housing supply will include a dedicated €90 million fund for local authorities to tackle residential vacancy and dereliction nationwide.
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The Labour Party would also continue to apply a 30 per cent windfall levy on the profits of energy companies which it believes would bring in an additional €500 million of revenue annually.
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On law and order the party has a plan to pay trainee gardaí the full starting salary of members of the force for the duration of their training to assist with recruitment.
The party will also propose a range of active travel measures to encourage cycling and reduce carbon emissions.
These include getting rid of VAT on bicycles, e-bikes and safety equipment and expanding the bike-to-work scheme to parents purchasing bikes for their children.
The party would also expand the bike-to-work scheme to cover the self-employed.
A car scrappage scheme for people who trade in old cars in exchange for e-bikes and cargo bikes is also proposed and Labour would expand the city bike schemes to five new towns.
Senator Rebecca Moynihan, the party’s climate spokeswoman, said: “Labour’s cycling package is a comprehensive set of proposals that would make it easier for people to cycle to work, school, and other destinations.
“According to Eurostat, Ireland had the largest increase in emissions in the EU last year, one of just four countries to increase emissions annually.
“Fundamental change is needed to achieve our emissions reduction targets. Delivering Labour’s cycling package would be a major step in the right direction.”
