Manifesto Checking. PD’s Budgetary Measures

In the run up to the election we are going to get loads of manifestos promising the sun moon and the stars. But do they actually deliver. In the first of I hope many I will try going through Fianna Fail and PD’s manifestos to see what they have promised and delivered and the other parties to see what they have changed. Now I am not sure if I have can get a copy of Fianna Fail’s (hint hint) but the PD’s is online. So I am going to go through the manifesto in relation to the budgetary measures and see what has and has not been done.

From Manifesto

Means Test: We will abolish the means test for the carer’s allowance and ensure that every carer is entitled to a full allowance in his or her own right.

From PD Budget Magazine Fluffy on the cover.

The E290 (single) E580 (couple) weekly income disregard for means assessment for the Carer’s Allowance scheme will be increased to E320 (single) E640 (couple)respectively, from April 2007.

Not done.

From Budget Magazine

In 2002 we said we would continue with a programme of responsible income tax rate reductions. This Budget delivers a cut to 41%, with a firm commitment to implementa further reduction to 40% in next December’s Budget.

From Manifesto

Over the next five years we will: deliver on our long term commitment by reducing the higher rate of income tax from 42% to 40%, the top rate in Britain and Northern Ireland since as far back as 1988.

So not done. Next December is over 5 and a half years and an election away.

From Manifesto

Carer’s Allowance: As part of our anti-poverty strategy the value of the carer’s allowance will be increased to €150 per week in current money terms by 2007.

In the budget this was €218 a week so actually beaten.

From Manifesto

we will increase the value of the respite grant - introduced by this government to €1,000 per year.

From Budget The respite care grant will also increase by €300 to €1,500.

Done and beaten
Manifesto

Income: We will set a target of €150 per week in 2002 terms for the lowest rate of social welfare payments, the figure to be adjusted upwards for inflation each year and the inflation-adjusted target
rate reached by 2007.

Budget €185.80 lowest rate. Done and beaten.

Manifesto

In Government, the Progressive Democrats will continue to increase Child Benefit, completing the three year programme in the budget later this year to bring it to €150 per month (for the first and second child). After then we will continue to provide real increases in Child Benefit.

Budget

Child Benefit 160 euro, So done.

Mannifesto

We will rebalance the Vehicle Registration Tax regime to favour vehicles with lower carbon dioxide emissions

From Budget speech

I intend that there should be some reward in the VRT system for choosing lower-emission vehicles, and that those choosing higher-emission vehicles should pay more..

Not really done in the 5 years in government only in 2008.

From Manifesto

take all those on the national minimum wage out of the income tax net completely, index the value of tax credits and tax bands so that inflation is not used as a tax-raising mechanism, ensure that no more than 20% of all earners pay tax at the higher rate

Not sure but I think they may all be done.

From Manifesto

We will introduce legislation to guarantee that the 12.5% rate will remain in force at least up until 2025.

Don’t think this has been done either. Overall they seem to have done an ok job at delivering on budgetary measures. But in an favourable economic climate that is the easy bit.

Edit: Updated Score. 8 out of 10. Points lost for careers allowance, VRT, and tax rates.