SERIES: Political hopes and ambitions for 2023

Louth's political representatives share hopes and ambitions for 2023

The Dundalk Democrat asked local TDs, councillors and senators from north and mid Louth to share their hopes, ambitions and predictions for the year ahead. In this article, Labour TD Ged Nash, shares his thoughts on 2023

My first prediction for 2023 is that there will be a form of a mini-budget introduced to the Dáil in March or April. As Labour’s Finance spokesperson, I made the case on Budget Day in September that once the government’s package of once-off cost of living measures melted away on the 31st December, the real hardship for people on low and fixed incomes across the country will be felt in the first few weeks of January and beyond.

Social welfare and the minimum wage increases have not kept pace with inflation and the TBESS scheme for businesses is a sticking plaster solution. Inflation will remain high in 2023 mostly driven by energy costs.

At last, the government is considering price caps the likes of which I have advised, modelled on the scheme brought in by our sister social democratic party in Germany.

It is perverse that we have a surplus of several billion euros this year yet 250,000 children are still living in deprivation. This should not be acceptable in one of the richest countries in the world.

I have said for a long time that we must use our prosperity to ensure that Ireland is the best country in the world in which to be a child. The newly minted Taoiseach said this in the Dail on his elevation on the 17th December. He needs to mean what he says.

The biggest issue I deal with on behalf of constituents in Louth is housing. In 2023 there needs to be a real step-change with the delivery of more social and affordable housing by the State. Only the State has the capacity and the authority to crack this.

Finally, I hope that 2023 will be the year when DkIT finally makes meaningful progress towards Technological University status. In addition, I’m looking forward to an all-Louth FAI Cup Final. Now that would be a dream come true!