Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

As a result of the Minister's reform, the Book of Estimates is being published with the budget and those changes always accompany the publication of the Book of Estimates. The concentration of tax relief is on those at the lower end of the scale, which is the consistent pattern of the Tánaiste since he took over as Minister for Finance. One of the most interesting tables in the Minister's speech, on pages C19-21, shows how much the average tax rates on annual earnings on all levels of income have declined in percentage terms from 1997 to 2008. What was a substantial tax burden is now much more limited.

I welcome the stamp duty reform, although the Minister is correct to be critical of the impact of some of the debate on the housing market. Anomalies are being corrected and the burden reduced. Affordability for young people has improved through a mixture of a drop in price, increased mortgage interest relief, stamp duty reforms and, perhaps, falls in interest rates.

In the area of social welfare I welcome the increase in the dependent allowance. From next year, spouses will receive full payment, the same as the pensioner. I am pleased that the commitment to overseas development assistance is being maintained.

The Irish Farmers' Journal acknowledges that a number of anomalies in the farm sector are being corrected. It is not as much as it would like but, unlike the benches opposite, it acknowledges the improvements made. Tipperary is pleased to have 45 decentralised jobs and expects over 200 within a few years. As far as Tipperary is concerned, decentralisation is working well.

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