Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome several of the initiatives set out in the Finance Bill. The first matter to which I wish to refer is the green element of the Bill and the provisions relating to improving the environment. We have employed various incentives and educational and other methods to try to encourage people to change their ways regarding refuse and the dumping thereof. I drove through various parts of my constituency on Monday last and observed that the quality of the grass on the verges at the sides of the roads has deteriorated as a result of the amount of rubbish being dumped there in plastic bags etc. The Finance Bill contains a number of tax incentives to encourage people to be more concerned about the environment.

We have done a great deal in the context of issuing information regarding refuse, the dumping of rubbish and so forth but we have not been too successful. Providing incentives is the only way to ensure an improved and greener environment in the future. Officials from local authorities are charged with checking on the dumping of rubbish but the practice remains ongoing. Cork County Council has done great work on putting in place bring centres etc. However, careful consideration must be given to this issue.

My second point relates to section 20 of the Bill, which contains incentives in respect of farm partnerships. In the past 15 years, particularly in the context of the dairy sector, the farm partnership model was used to try to amalgamate smaller farms into single units. Some of these partnerships did not work or fell apart, for example as a result of the death of one of their members. I welcome the provisions on farm partnerships and I hope they will be implemented because many people, through no specific fault of their own, were affected when certain partnerships fell apart. I am glad the Government is taking action in respect of this matter.

Another issue to which I wish to refer is the giving of sites to family members by either a father or mother. The threshold in this regard is being increased dramatically, which is welcome. It is fine to ensure that sites can be transferred without incurring stamp duty payments and so forth. However, major issues arise in the context of rural planning and further such issues will come to light in the future in respect of the regulations that are to be introduced.

On the subject of sites, a farmer in my constituency wished to transfer ownership of a site to a school which had received a grant from the Department of Education and Science under the devolved grants scheme to build an extension. The individual in question wanted to give, free of charge, an acre of land to the school. In view of the prices charged for land, particularly in villages and towns, it is amazing that he was willing to donate the site. However, as a result of the regulations on taxation and stamp duty, the farmer in question could not transfer the land in the free and simple way he envisaged because a monetary value had to be placed on it. In addition, and even though there would not have been any exchange of funds in respect of the site, stamp duty would have had to be paid. I ask the Minister to examine this matter, particularly because many people are willing to donate small parcels of land to community projects, etc. Perhaps an amendment could be introduced in respect of this matter and people throughout the country might benefit as a result.

In recent years a great deal of effort and money have been invested in promoting agriculture. Some of the provisions in this regard in both the budget and the Finance Bill are welcome. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made available huge grants in respect of farm pollution and the protection of the environment and it is examining the possibility of expanding these because they have been of major benefit to people in rural areas, particularly those on smaller incomes, in the context of allowing them to put in place the proper facilities to ensure that the environment is protected from an agricultural point of view.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance made provision in the budget for a once-off grant for St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville, which is the service provider for people with intellectual disabilities in north Cork and south Limerick. It offers a fantastic service and I cannot praise highly enough its chairman, Martin O'Donnell, its chief executive, Conor Counihan, and its staff for the work they do. The foundation is seen as one of the best service providers in the entire country and it does fantastic work. The funding provided is welcome, particularly in light of the huge shortfall relating to the hydrotherapy pool the foundation built for those who avail of its service. It is great that the Government is giving recognition to those employed by the foundation who do tremendous work in their communities in providing help not only to the service users but also to their families.

If I commented at length on the health sector, we could be here saecula saeculorum. Huge amounts of money have been included under the health service budget. There are a number of issues that arise from time to time, particularly in the context of the assessment of home helps. If a person is admitted to hospital for a week or ten days, when he or she returns home it will be almost three weeks before their home help service resumes. This only adds to the paperwork officials are obliged to complete. If a person is entitled to the services of a home help before he or she enters hospital, either for a routine stay or as a result of an emergency, surely he or she should be able to avail of those services again immediately upon his or her return home.

Consideration must be given to this matter because the home help service provides an excellent service and allows people to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. It provides support for families throughout the country and is a great initiative. Ten or 15 years ago, such a service was not available. Instead of being cut back, it should be enhanced in every way. We must ensure that the type of bureaucracy to which I refer is removed from the equation because it is not acceptable.

I wish to comment on the major resistance in Dublin to the decentralisation project and the transfer of parts of Departments or State agencies to locations throughout the country. Decentralisation is welcome because we need more balanced views rather than having everything centred on Dublin. The ideas and views contained in reports compiled from people in other parts of the country must be brought to the attention of central Government. I am glad the decentralisation programme is proceeding and I look forward to the fulfilment of the commitments made in respect of the towns of Macroom and Kanturk in my constituency. Decentralisation is a great project and it has benefited many people in various communities. There is no reason work cannot be done as well or better in locations other than Dublin. As Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Economic and Regulatory Affairs, I welcome the review taking place in the Department of the Taoiseach of the regulatory affairs bodies set up around the country. In that context, the committee now has powers to investigate the set-up, finances and operations of regulators in their reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas. That should be welcomed.

Every public representative could comment on the amount of regulation that has come about in the setting up or carrying out of business, which has hampered such businesses across the country. There is a thought among the public and abroad that we interpret our regulations far more strictly in this country than elsewhere. This is particularly so in considering how regulations are implemented in other European countries.

I welcome the review being made by the Taoiseach's Department but as a Government and Parliament as a whole, we must consider this matter seriously. We must ensure no industry — small, medium or large business — or other group of people will be hampered by regulation going forward. There should be a clear method and system within the country that will minimise regulation.

I would be the first to admit that, in some sectors, stringent regulations had to be introduced. In some cases, regulations are very worthwhile in the carrying on of businesses and saving lives in the case of the Health and Safety Authority. However, we have come from a position of little regulation to one with significant regulation, so it is important we get the balance right. I will consider the matter in committee and we will try to ensure the committee's work leads to regulation being limited unless it is worthwhile and benefits society. If there is a surplus of regulation, we will try to look at it.

I will also address the issue of infrastructure, particularly the amount of money which has been pumped in by the Government to roads, leading to upgrades of the main motorways and dual carriageways between cities. That is continuing and I am delighted the Atlantic corridor from Cork to Limerick and Galway is a priority under Transport 21.

Some towns are experiencing significant bottlenecks. Kildare and Monasterevin were very problematic for people driving from Cork or anywhere else on the N7 to Dublin ten years ago. Those towns have now been bypassed but the problems are further down the line. We have significant problems in places such as Charleville in north Cork and Buttevant. Funding has again been committed this year and I hope these projects will move on. Charleville in particular is clogged on a Friday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and right throughout the week.

Much industry has started up in the area over the past three or four years and much employment is coming on stream. A new hotel opened recently, which should be welcomed. The only way we can ensure continued growth in towns clogged by traffic is to continue funding from the Government in the form of the Transport 21 programme. It should be front-loaded because at times when economic difficulties are apparent, there can be a tightening of funds.

There may be an inclination to cut these projects but it is important we continue to spend money on them to ensure we have the best possible road infrastructure to attract inward investment. As we have been attracting inward investment for some time, it is most important we ensure the investment, jobs and employment we have are supported. This also applies to the entrepreneurs and businesspeople running indigenous industries.

Others have spoken about competitiveness, an economic issue which the Government should look at carefully. We have a buoyant economy which we hope to continue.

The Minister has tried to bring in some incentives with the Finance Bill but there are significant untapped resources in our country. Many businesspeople have been good at developing industry, getting a bright idea and being forward thinking. Ballyhass Lakes in north Cork is an example, as much industry has been developed around a tourist attraction. That should be welcomed. We must ensure we have proper taxation incentives and encouragement from local Leader groups and enterprise boards so these people will continue to consider ideas and others will be encouraged in every possible way.

Over the years people criticised local authorities and Leader groups but the local Leader groups are doing fantastic work right across the country and should be encouraged. We are hoping for further funding under the Leader projects from the Department headed by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I hope this will come sooner rather than later.

These groups have provided funding and encouragement to local people right across the country. They have been the first port of call for businesses and people looking at opportunities. They have provided advice and incentives. Related to my point on decentralisation, these people are already on the ground and can readily identify with an area or group of people in terms of providing encouragement. They have the benefit of being located within the local community and therefore know exactly what is going on.

Some of the groups are working with local community activists in the setting up of plans for villages and towns. These incentives should have been in place long ago and I am delighted they are finally being implemented.

I have some comments on how the budget and Finance Bill relate to people caring for others at home, be they elderly parents, siblings, sons and daughters or people with disabilities. All Members would state these people carry out significant work in society. The half-way carer's allowance was introduced in September 2007, which provided that anybody on a qualifying social welfare payment — a pension or disability allowance, although not the jobseeker's allowance — could get an allowance. That has alleviated significant concern and poverty for people in their homes. People who qualified for it have been absolutely delighted to get it. It was a great initiative which got many people out of financial difficulty.

Much funding has been put into the education sector, particularly the construction and renovation of primary schools over the years with the devolved grant. This grant has brought much benefit and allowed the boards of management of local schools incentives to get jobs done at a very competitive and reasonable price. The old scheme dealt with major refurbishments and we can see the cost differences for the Exchequer have been significant. I encourage the Department to carry on this fantastic work.

With these comments I commend the Finance Bill to the House and congratulate the Minister for Finance on an excellent Bill. There is much in the Bill that will be of great importance. The consolidation of farms was introduced and approved by the European Commission. Officials at the Department of Finance should consider including provisions on farmers who sold two farms to buy one, by way of amendment on either Committee or Report Stages. I commend the Bill to the House.

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