ISME, the Independent Business Organisation, is disappointed that the Budget contains very little with respect to the promotion of enterprise, the encouragement and rewarding of risk-taking and will not improve the overall position of indigenous business.
The significant increase in petrol and diesel prices will have a negative influence on business transport costs, particularly when added to the increase in road tax in January 2004.
While welcoming the decision to increase the tax credits to Ђ1,040, which will primarily benefit the lower-paid, the Association is disappointed at the decision to increase the ceiling for Employees’ PRSI and view this as a step in the wrong direction.
As in previous Budgets, the Minister has compounded the injustice to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by not extending the PAYE allowance to owner/managers.
