TWO Donegal TDs verbal war over their party budget proposals escalated today.
Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue has accused Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty of attempting to distract from his own party’s failure to deliver a credible alternative budget.
The Fianna Fáil Deputy said: “Deputy Doherty’s hysterics cannot cover up the fact that once again, Sinn Féin has failed to produce realistic and fully costed budget proposals. His smoke and mirrors tactic will not work, and he would be far better off putting his energy into addressing the gaping hole at the heart of Sinn Féin’s plan.
“Deputy Doherty has skirted over the fact that the financial return from the central pillar of Sinn Féin’s budget plan has been plucked from thin air. The party has been forced to admit that its wealth tax proposal, which it claims will raise €800 million, has not been costed by the Department of the Finance.
“Sinn Féin are also speaking out of both sides of their mouths in relation to the household charge – while encouraging people not to pay it, their budget relies on the €100 million revenue it will provide next year.
“Pearse Doherty may not like the fact that we have produced a fairer way to recovery, but the reality is that Fianna Fáil is the only opposition party in years to produce a comprehensive, credible and fully costed alternative budget.”
The Inishowen TD insisted Fianna Fáil’s plan includes the cost of fully reversing cuts to rural schools, DEIS schools and guidance counsellors.
“Sinn Féin’s plan does not,” said Deputy McConalogue.
“We have provided specific funding to reverse cuts to student grants. Sinn Féin has not. Our plan increases resource hours across the school system. Sinn’s Féin’s does not.
“Fianna Fáil has a fully costed proposal to reverse the cuts to local garda stations and the local garda fleet. Sinn Féin’s plan makes no mention of garda resources. Our proposals include free GP care for all babies born next year. Sinn Féin has no such proposal.”
Deputy McConalogue added: “Instead of spending all his energy criticising others, Pearse Doherty should first ensure that his own party’s plan stands up to scrutiny.”
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