Sinn Féin pledges to abolish USC for average workers and scrap TV licence

Sinn Féin has pledged to abolish the universal social charge (USC) for average workers, reduce childcare costs to €10 per day, and abolish the TV licence, as part of its alternative budget.

The party said it will “undo the damage” of previous governments, while ramping up public spending.

The document, published on Thursday, set outs the party’s budget plans, with a lot of focus on measures for families in an attempt to reduce everyday costs.

Pearse Doherty, the party’s finance spokesman, said it is a budget package of €12.4 billion, including €7.3 billion of new measures.

Two women and two men walking along a street — Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane, public expenditure and reform spokeswoman Rose Conway-Walsh, president Mary Lou McDonald and finance spokesman Pearse Doherty. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

“In this document you’re not going to see bike shelters for €336,000. You’re not going to see security huts for €1.4 million and you’re not going to see runaway projects like the Children’s…