'It's a great little country, unless you're working' - Tipperary councillor slams Budget 2026

TIPPERARY LIVE'S BUDGET 2026 COVERAGE IS SPONSORED BY PREMIER CREDIT UNION

Independent Councillor for the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District, John O'Heney, has slammed the newly released Budget 2026 as a "a missed opportunity for Ireland's working people"

The Government has described Budget 2026, announced earlier this week, as "sensible" and one which will "protect jobs and protect growth" in Ireland given an uncertain global economy.

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Some of the headline takeaways from the Budget include:

- A social protection package worth €27 billion including; a €10 increase across the weekly social protection payments, including the State pension, a Christmas bonus for long-term social welfare recipients to be paid at a rate of 100% of the normal weekly payment, and weekly rates of child support payment to increase by €8 for children under 12 and €16 for children over 12, to €58 and €78, respectively

- The minimum wage will increase by 65c per hour to €14.15 per hour from 1 January 2026

- VAT rate on sale of completed apartments to be reduced from 13.5% to 9% from tonight until December 2030

- Increase will add around 2.5c to cost of litre of motor fuels

- Duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes to increase by 50c, likely pushing cost of most popular brands to almost €19 for the first time

- A record level funding of €27.4bn for the Department of Health for 2026.

You can read a more in-depth look at Budget 2026 here.

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There have been mixed reactions to Budget 2026 since its announcement on Tuesday afternoon, and Cllr O'Heney has become the latest Tipperary-based politician to give his two cents.

On Tuesday evening, the day the Budget was released, Cllr O'Heney released a statement on Budget 2026 entitled 'Nothing for Working People'.

It read:

Upon carefel reflection this evening of Budget 2026, it is very clear that is a missed opportunity for Ireland’s working people — the backbone of our economy.

While the Government touts measures to support various sectors, the reality is that those who keep this country running day in and day out have been left behind.

Tax Relief and Income Support

There is no meaningful increase in income tax bands, leaving many workers facing higher tax burdens due to inflation and wage increases. The 2% Universal Social Charge (USC) ceiling has been modestly raised to €28,700, but this does little to alleviate the pressure on middle-income earners. While the national minimum wage is set to rise to €14.15 per hour, this increase is offset by higher living costs and does not address the broader tax challenges faced by workers.

Housing and Childcare

The Government has allocated €2 billion for social home building and €1.2 billion for starter home schemes, including the extension of the Help to Buy scheme. However, these measures fall short of addressing the urgent housing needs of working families. The €500 reduction in third-level student fees is welcome but does not go far enough to ease the financial burden on families .

Support for Small Businesses

Small business owners, already grappling with rising costs, have been offered little in this Budget. While there are extensions to certain tax credits and reliefs, these measures do not provide the substantial support needed to ensure the survival and growth of small enterprises.

Cost of Living and Inflation

Despite the Government's claims of a balanced budget, the reality for many working individuals is different. The cost of living continues to rise, with increases in fuel prices and other essentials, yet wages and tax relief measures have not kept pace. This imbalance means that many workers are effectively worse off, as their purchasing power diminishes.

Conclusion

Budget 2026 fails to deliver for Ireland’s working people. While certain sectors receive attention, the majority who contribute most to our economy are left without the support they need.

It’s a great little country — unless you’re working.

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