Councillors back motion calling on the Government to abolish the Universal Social Charge

Councillors have backed a motion calling on the Government to abolish the Universal Social Charge (USC) from 1st January 2027.

The motion, submitted by Laytown/Bettystown Independent Cllr Carol Lennon, received the support of councillors at Monday’s full Meath County Council meeting.

The motion called on Government to abolish the USC from January 2027 through what Cllr Lennon described as a “fiscally responsible resilience package”, including efficiency savings, procurement reform, multinational top-up tax revenue and a capped, time-limited transition fund linked to corporation tax receipts, while protecting frontline public services.

Speaking following the meeting, Cllr Lennon said the USC had originally been introduced in 2011 as a temporary measure during the economic crisis but argued it had now become a long-term burden on workers.

“The USC was introduced as a temporary measure in 2011 in a time of economic crisis. Unfortunately, it appears that Government are not familiar with the meaning of the word temporary,” she said.

“Since 2011, workers have paid a cumulative €58.1 billion in USC and with Ireland in almost full employment this crisis-era tax on work is no longer justified.”

Cllr Lennon said previous commitments by Government parties to abolish the USC had not materialised and claimed workers continued to shoulder the burden while public spending continued to rise.

During the debate, councillors referenced a number of high-profile public spending overruns, including the National Children’s Hospital and the National Broadband Plan, arguing greater efficiencies were needed in State spending.

Independent Ashbourne Cllr Amanda Smith said workers should see more of their income retained and argued Government needed to “make work pay”.

“Finding €5 billion can be done if this government has the will to give the workers of this country back some of their hard-earned money,” she said.