Castlebar election candidate pledges to halt hardship on Mayo households
The carbon tax increases came into effect last week, placing households across Mayo under more financial burden amidst an ever-spiralling cost-of-living crisis.
"This is proof our elected leaders are miles out of touch with reality", stated Castlebar local election candidate Donal Geraghty.
The decision not to halt the tax by Minister for Finance Michael McGrath sees the cost of heating your home rise by €7.50 to €56 per tonne.
Geraghty stated, 'For ordinary families already struggling to make ends meet, this hike in carbon tax translates into serious financial strain for ordinary working people who receive no subsidies or government handouts.' Geraghty, who supplies Smokeless Coal to many people across the Castlebar area, says he has heard harrowing stories from customers.
'The repercussions of this tax hike extend beyond mere numbers on a bill. It means sacrifices for families already stretched thin, forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. It means added pressure on vulnerable communities, particularly the elderly and the struggling squeezed middle-income households, who I will fight tooth and nail for if elected.'
Donal Geraghty, the Independent Ireland candidate for Castlebar LEA, condemns this decision as yet another blow inflicted by an 'elitist Green Party'.
'The government's relentless pursuit of carbon taxes disproportionately burdens those least able to afford it,' says Geraghty. 'It's a stark reminder of the growing disconnect between our leaders and the everyday realities faced by ordinary honest working people.'
Geraghty calls for urgent action to address the plight of Castlebar people and advocates for freezing and reforming the carbon tax, recognising the need for balanced climate policies that don't place undue hardship on the most vulnerable.
'Enough is enough,' declared Geraghty. 'We need real solutions that prioritise the well-being of our communities over short-sighted policies driving people to poverty. It's time to stand up for the people of Castlebar and elect someone who will call out these injustices and copper-fasten common sense into policy.'