Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last night, I mentioned some of the positive things in the budget, but I also put it in context. I put it in the context of the sustainable development goals to eradicate poverty that we signed up to, the challenges of the climate and biodiversity crisis, and the pandemic. Before I go into other matters tonight, I want to speak about the eradication of poverty that we signed up to. The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, earlier referred to the tax changes, as did the Taoiseach. In his speech, the Taoiseach said, "tax changes [are] weighted to the lowest paid, which will help more than 1.8 million people".

I do not believe that Social Justice Ireland is on the extreme radical side or given to mistruths. It is stated that more people will be in poverty following this budget as a result of the Government's failure to focus on low to middle-income households with jobs. A couple with one earner on €30,000 a year will receive an additional 39 cent. It goes on to give many more examples. I would like to see where the truth lies on this. It has stated that as a result of this budget more people will be living in poverty. I do not entirely agree with Social Justice Ireland on everything, but I find its analysis very useful. Perhaps someone, when summing up the debate, might explain why it claims that. I have not had enough time to go into it myself. At this point, I take its word on it.

There are many positive things in the budget, but, as I pointed out last night, the overall picture is missing. I nGaeilge deirtear cá bhfuil ár dtriall, mar thír? Where is our destination as a country? What are we trying to achieve in adjusting these pieces? More than €30 million has been allocated to women's health with great self-praise on the part of the Government. Let us consider what it is based on. In 2016 the strategy, Creating a Better Future Together: National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, was introduced.

The then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, launched it with a full commitment to implement it. We do not even have an action plan. This is built on the deaths and suffering of women and children and we do not have an action plan in the 21st century. Again, it is difficult for me to be overly positive about €30 million because I am not sure what it relates to.

It is a similar story with domestic and gender-based violence. We see the most horrific numbers on a daily basis but again we have not seen publication of the Tusla review on the adequacy of refuges provided for women and children. With regard to the disability capacity review, €65 million is very welcome but what does it mean in context? There are 643,131 people suffering with a disability but what did the disability capacity review find? The resulting shortfall is estimated to range from a minimum of 800 places up to 2,300 places. There are very limited data on outflows and dropouts. The Health Service Executive has estimated there may be 600 people with no day service who need one. I could go on because there are pages of key findings.

I can go local with an example that captures the approach of different Governments. Imagine having to submit a business case for a service for a child or adult with a disability. Ability West submitted business cases to justify care over a period. Does the Minister of State know how many of the 60 business cases were approved for care? It was 28.

I welcome the money going to the health Department but in 2018 the health service capacity review told us in very clear terms the unsustainability of the Irish system. I could go on but I have just 44 seconds.

I will end by speaking about the tax on zoned land, using an example on the east side of Eyre Square as an example. A site was bought for €14 million and it originally sold for €170 million. It is right in the centre of town and it has remained empty for all these years. We have had a vacant site levy but it is right in the middle of a city with a massive housing crisis that is on a par if not worse than Dublin. That site remains empty and it includes more than 30 properties in an area embraced by Eyre Square.

I deplore that the help-to-buy scheme is being extended. It is four times more costly than what was envisaged but no review has been done on it since 2018. The scheme can benefit a house costing up to €600,000. We are renewing it with no review at a cost that is four times what was anticipated.

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