Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has said that the party in government would abolish the Universal Social Charge (USC) for average workers.

Ahead of Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget this week, Deputy Doherty added that ordinary workers and families continue to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, and that this proposal would put over €1,100 into average workers’ pockets, exempt USC for over two million workers, and benefit all workers.

Teachta Doherty said:

“The USC is a legacy of Fianna Fáil crashing the economy. Sinn Féin would do things differently.

“By abolishing the USC for the average worker, Sinn Féin will lift a huge burden from lower and middle income families who are struggling with the cost of living.

“Sinn Féin in government would abolish the USC for average workers by exempting the first €45,000 of every worker’s income, starting by exempting the first €30,000 income in 2025.

“This proposal would benefit all workers, and would result in take-home pay of more than €1,100 extra a year for average workers.

“The cost-of-living crisis hasn’t gone away. Ordinary workers and families are struggling and need a fair tax package that delivers for them.

“Unlike Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s two-tier tax package, Sinn Féin in government would deliver a fair tax package for all workers.

“This is just one part of a €1.335bn income tax package that we will set out in our Alternative Budget, and it comes on top of the already-announced €2.3bn cost-of-living measures proposed for this year, and a commitment to deliver childcare for €10 a day.

“When you add in the €39bn Housing plan and the €1bn Investment in Communities fund, Sinn Féin are making an unparalleled commitment that, if in government, we would, from day one, begin the process of removing the costs-of-living burdens carried by Irish households across the state.”