Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

This Bill continues the policy which the Government has had in place since its inception and election in 1997, that is, to prioritise spending on infrastructure such as roads, bridges and broadband over spending on services such as health, education, social welfare and housing. The continued effect of this policy is that there are considerable increases in the numbers on local authority housing lists, involving approximately 50,000 families, hundreds of patients on trolleys in the accident and emergency departments of hospitals on a daily basis and some of the largest class sizes in Europe. In my constituency I have come across cases where there are 39 pupils in the fourth class of a primary school. One quarter of all primary school students are taught in classes, the sizes of which are over 20% above that recommended.

Various reports, the most recent of which is the report of the National Economic and Social Forum, have shown clearly that the position on inequality is now worse than ever. Since the Government assumed power in 1997 the gap between rich and poor has increased by approximately €300 per week or over €15,000 per annum. The recent report states we have a wealthier but more unequal society, with the richest 20% earning 12 times as much as the poorest 20%. It also states, for instance, that 14% of households are living in poverty and that these are headed by a person with a job. There is also significant child poverty, with about 16% of children living in poverty. That is a scandal, given that this is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe and the world. The reason for this is that the Government has prioritised spending on infrastructure rather than on services. We can do both. There is a vast Government surplus, which amounted to over €6 billion last year and is projected to amount to over €4.4 billion this year. That surplus should be allocated to expenditure on services such as health, education and housing.

The Bill does nothing for a town such as Carrick-on-Suir which has been totally abandoned by the Government. Its unemployment rate is five times that for the country as a whole. Almost 1,000 people are unemployed in a town of 5,000. The Government has washed its hands of job creation in the town by refusing to establish a jobs task force for it. The Bill does nothing for the town and the people there who are unemployed. It is indicative of the policy of the Government which prioritises infrastructure over housing.

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