Sinn Fein’s NI reality tells a different story to their promises in Offaly – Corcoran Kennedy

Fine Gael TD for Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, says that Sinn Féin has absolutely no credibility or record on supporting communities in Co. Offaly.

“Sinn Féin’s criticism of the performance of this Government’s record on rural Ireland rings very hollow considering their performance in Northern Ireland where they are in Government.

“The recovery is underway and while many people are still not feeling the benefit, our plan is working. The number on the Live Register in Offaly has fallen by 15.6 % since this Government came to office in 2011. 

“Regional job creation is a key focus of the Action Plan for Jobs 2015 and the Regional Enterprise Strategy, beginning in the Midlands, is now underway tapping into the strengths and potential of local areas. The Government has committed to creating 40,000 new jobs in 2015 and to achieving full employment by 2018. 

“Contrast this with the Sinn Féin approach. They have displayed unbelievable hypocrisy in their policy stances north and south of the border. In the North, where they has to face up to the responsibilities of government, Sinn Féin has stood over a high level of property tax which costs on average €950. It is laying off 20,000 public sector workers and cutting the social housing budget by 10%. Sinn Féin have closed 100 rural schools in Northern Ireland and are laying off 500 teachers. 

“That is Sinn Féin’s record in Government. 

“In the South their policies would kill jobs. They propose €1.6bn in new taxes on work, enterprise and entrepreneurship which would stall any recovery in Co. Offaly. Their new third rate of income tax would leave a total top tax rate of 59%, while their proposal to increase employers’ PRSI is literally a tax on jobs. 

“We need to be wary of Sinn Féin promises. The reality of Sinn Fein is an obsession with high taxes which would stall the recovery that is beginning to take hold in Co. Offaly.”