text: We have been analysing and critiquing the Government’s annual budget since 1988, outlining proposals in advance and providing detailed analysis when the Budget is announced. Here, we draw attention to some of the policy areas where progress has been made.
  Budget 2020 ignores the need for reform of tax expenditures
  Friday, 8 November 2019
  Social Justice Ireland has repeatedly called for increased scrutiny of tax expenditures as part of the budgetary process. We regret that in Budget 2020, at a time when the Minister for Finance has made a point of repeatedly noting the scarcity of available resources, government has ignored a real opportunity to increase the total tax-take whilst making the tax system fairer.
  Tenants or Tenements?
  Wednesday, 6 November 2019
  In allocating just €2m of additional funding to the RTB for investigating and sanctioning non-compliance with the Rent Pressure Zone measures, and no additional funding for rent inspections and sanctions under other landlord and tenant legislation, the Government has shown that they are not serious about protecting tenants.
  Progress on Carbon Tax is welcome
  Monday, 4 November 2019
  Social Justice Ireland welcomes the Budget 2020 decision to increase the carbon tax from €20 per tonne to €26 per tonne. This is the first significant increase in the tax since it was introduced almost one decade ago, and we also welcome the commitment to ringfence the revenue to deal with the transition to a more carbon neutral economy.
  Ireland continues to lag on SDG progress after Budget 2020
  Monday, 28 October 2019
  The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals aim to leave no one behind. With minimal progress on these in recent years, Budget 2020 reinforces Ireland's position as a laggard.
  Budget 2020 does little to improve ODA situation
  Friday, 25 October 2019
  While welcoming the small increase in Overseas Development Assistance in Budget 2020, Social Justice Ireland is disappointed that this will not result in any significant improvement in Ireland’s ODA in terms of national income. We call on government to develop and publish a roadmap to reach the UN-agreed target.
  Income Gains and Effective Tax Rates after Budget 2020
  Wednesday, 23 October 2019
  What income changes arose from the tax and benefit measures taken in Budget 2020? What are the effective tax rates now for different levels of income, and how do they compare with effective rates over time? Click here to see.
  The tax and benefit impacts of this Government's 4 Budgets
  Monday, 21 October 2019
  Budget 2020 marks the fourth Budget of the current Government. Our analysis tracks the cumulative impact of changes to income taxation and welfare following all four of this Government’s Budgets.
  How will Budget 2020 affect poverty rates?
  Thursday, 17 October 2019
  Today is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. What did last week's Budget do to help eradicate poverty?
  €400,000 per day and no homes to go to
  Wednesday, 16 October 2019
  €147 million was spent on Emergency Accommodation for homeless peopled in 2018. A mere fraction of this (less than €10 million) was spent on prevention. In allocating €166m between emergency accommodation and homelessness prevention in Budget 2020, Government refused to change a policy that simply isn't working and, instead, look for real solutions.