
Ireland to tap multinational tax windfall to hike infrastructure spending by 23%
Ireland has for years failed to turn a multinational-driven corporate tax boom into improving creaking energy, water and housing supply. The IMF recently estimated that Ireland's infrastructure lags competitor economies by around 32%.
"We believe that there's a need to immediately implement a step change in the scale and quality of public investment in critical sectors," Prime Minister Micheal Martin told a news conference on Tuesday.
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Times
16 minutes ago
- Times
The best electric cars eligible for the £3,750 grant
A grant announced last week will offer motorists up to £3,750 off the cost of a new electric car. The £650 million scheme has its limitations, however. It applies only to new cars with a list price of less than £37,000. This means that it does not cover all manufacturers: BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi, Polestar and Tesla do not sell vehicles below £37,000. Registration for the scheme opened last Wednesday. So far, the grant has brought 'chaos and confusion' as car dealers said they had been left fielding calls from potential buyers but had no information. • Read more expert reviews, news and insights on cars and motoring Qualifying vehicles fall into two bands based on the manufacturer's sustainability efforts and production emissions. Greener band 1 vehicles qualify for the full £3,750 discount and buyers of band 2 vehicles get up to £1,500 off. Manufacturers must apply for their vehicles to be part of the grant scheme, then they will find out which band their cars fall into. Sustainability stipulations and warranty conditions rule out Chinese-assembled vehicles, although the Chinese companies MG, GWM UK and Leapmotor have announced their own discounts in line with the electric car grant should be mindful about upgrading to the next trim level or adding other options because the increase in price could tip could tip them over £37, improvements in battery longevity and heavy depreciation, second-hand electric cars are increasingly popular and may still prove more cost-effective than a new car with a grant. But if you're keen to take advantage of the scheme, here are five of the best qualifying vehicles. With one of the best range-to-cost ratios, the Renault Scenic E-Tech is designed to make long journeys easier. In the real world 381 miles might be ambitious but owners should expect more than 300 miles per charge and compatible rapid chargers can take the Scenic's battery from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in 37 minutes. Driving range is preserved by an efficient heat pump that controls cabin temperature, and the Renault app helps drivers to check range and plan charges en route. It has extensive safety features and driver aids, and the 12-inch Google-based touchscreen has apps such as Waze and Amazon Music built Goes far for the moneyCons Could be more fun to drive The Vauxhall Grandland Electric offers excellent battery range and space for the money, easily accommodating bulky baby car seats, gigantic teenagers and associated kit. It's a decent-looking large family SUV that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. While it may not be the nippiest or most exciting car on the road, the interior is comfortable and there's 550 litres of space in the Spacious insideCons Feels underpowered The Citroen E-C3 is a characterful little city car that can handle the occasional longer jaunt with an advertised range of 199 miles. Its front seats and steering wheel can be heated, and you get all the required safety features such as active lane departure warning. The 44kWh battery charges from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in 26 minutes at a fast public charger. The infotainment system is accessed via the 10.25-inch touchscreen display, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a playfully chunky design and a higher driving position, and the compact interior is clean and AffordabilityCons Some cheap materials inside Any sceptics who complain that electric cars take the fun out of driving should climb behind the wheel of an Alpine A290. Based on the Renault 5, with more performance and sportier handling, it's a proper little electric hot hatch, zipping from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds. The 220hp maximum power, 300 NM maximum torque and overtake button are complemented by muscular lines, rally-style lighting and a Formula 1-inspired steering wheel. With a range of up to 226 miles, five doors, five seats and 326 litres of boot space, it can handle errands as well as bringing the Engaging handlingCons The Renault 5 is a lot cheaper and almost as fun For an electric car that turns heads at a decent price, the Mini Cooper SE is hard to beat. It has a sleek, minimalist exterior, 16 to 18-inch alloys, panoramic sunroof, and stylish interior. The distinctive circular interactive display comes with a cutesy digital companion, while the upholstery is leather-free and recycled. Billed as bringing a 'go-kart feeling', the Mini Cooper SE's low centre of gravity makes it enjoyable to sling around corners, taking on city driving and longer trips with comprehensive safety and driver assist features. It can charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in about 30 Desirable stylingCons Not the best value


BreakingNews.ie
16 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Minister defends plans to cut VAT for hospitality sector 'to keep it sustainable'
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has been defending plans to cut VAT for the hospitality sector. 'The tourism sector is a very important part of the economy. At this point in time, over 200,000 people are employed in it. It's a €9 billion sector. And it's so important to try and keep that sector sustainable,' he told RTÉ radio's Today show. Advertisement 'We've seen over the last number of years a very significant number of independent small food outlets and coffee shops come under pressure, many restaurants closing their doors. But this is a jobs measure to sustain the employment in that sector, which is critically important to me as Minister for Tourism and critically to get that regional balance because many of these jobs are located in regional parts of Ireland and it's so important that we have that growth in those key sectors.' Mr Burke said that the cut in VAT would be a stimulus measure. 'It is a viability measure, they are under significant pressure. We've had a lot of additionality from government, part of it over the last three years, in terms of regulatory requirements in the trajectory to a living wage and sick pay in so many areas that have put significant pressure on the sector and have reduced their margins. 'I've been in coffee shops and indeed restaurants where I've seen their margins diminish and some making a very significant loss that they weren't the prior year, considering in many cases their trade and turnover has sustained. 'So critically it's very difficult to ask everyone to pass it on but we need to ensure that we keep the jobs in the first place and that's the prism I look through when I have a sustainability piece like this. This is to protect all of those over 200,000 jobs. To try and grow the sector because there's a very exciting new tourism plan which we'll be bringing out in September and part of that will be an all-island food strategy and also giving Failte Ireland the power to develop the restaurant sector as well.' Advertisement The Minister said that the best value for money would be to sustain jobs. 'We've learned one thing in this economy and we've proven it. And we have been almost Teflon as a government on this. We've pushed 90,000 jobs into the economy over the last 12 months. And considering when we're at or about full employment, to put 90,00 extra households with additional income into them with more jobs is very significant. 'We have a huge amount of jobs, almost 600,000 put in since the pandemic. And that's been the premium of this government, because for any household, the route to give you a chance and opportunity to realise your ambition in life is a job. And the more good quality jobs we get into the economy as well, that's what I'm focused on with many of the different sectors we're working on, trying to ensure that we have the building blocks to sustain the high-level of high-quality jobs we have in our economy.'


The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
New energy tariffs could automatically save you £200 a year WITHOUT having to cut back on electricity
HOUSEHOLDS could save £200 a year without having to cut back on electricity through new tariffs. Bill payers could cut costs by signing up for time-of-use tariffs charging different rates during the day based on wholesale demand. 1 The warning comes as the government today lays out plans for more families to sign up for flexible energy tariffs as part of its new Clean Flexibility Roadmap. The roadmap will demand suppliers make information on smart tariffs for households without EVs easier to find. Households will also be helped to sign up for energy products and services that are tailored based on their electricity usage. Meanwhile, electric vehicle drivers will be eligible for discounts on their electricity at off-peak times. Michael Shanks, energy minister, said: 'This roadmap gives households and businesses the choice and control over when and how they use their energy. 'The flexible electricity system we are working to build will help make that a reality for consumers across the country, by supporting them to bring down their bills through using new tariffs and technologies. 'In this way we will protect working people's pockets and ensure they are the first to benefit from our clean power mission.' The government says pushing more households towards using electricity at off-peak times will help save the electricity network £70billion by 2050. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: "Smart tariffs could help make household energy bills more affordable and reduce the cost of developing the UK's energy infrastructure but their success is dependent on consumer support and engagement. "To give consumers the confidence to take up these tariffs, the government must ensure that energy customers are given the information they need so they can easily compare tariffs, find out how much they could save and choose the best option for them."