Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I enjoy a debate. However, I will proceed to talk about the budget. I welcome the changes to the income levy and to the medical card scheme for the over 70s. I worked with my Green Party colleagues to secure changes to the original plan once the stress, hurt and anxiety being caused to elderly people became apparent. I take this opportunity to apologise personally to my constituents for any hurt or distress caused to them and for which I am collectively responsible.

Since the announcement of the attention to withdraw universal provision of medical cards to over 70s, I have made various suggestions in writing to the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, as to how the moneys involved might otherwise be saved. I also wrote to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, to suggest that the greyhound and horse racing fund, which amounts to some €70 million in this year's budget, be diverted. That particular fund accounts for almost one third of sports funding which might be better allocated elsewhere, such as minority sports, swimming pool programmes and so on. In my constituency, for example, Collinstown Park Community College's sports hall faces the possibility of closure, as does Pobalscoil Isolde's public community facility. As I said in my letter to the Minister, a root and branch analysis of these profitable industries — horse racing and greyhound racing — might be helpful. The latter is associated with a significant degree of wanton cruelty. Such an analysis might indicate a capacity for self-funding. If some Exchequer funding is required, I would suggest the introduction of a betting tax.

I propose to deal mainly with the education provisions in the budget. We all must acknowledge that this could never have been other than a very difficult budget. Growth for this year is -1.5%, with an expected rate of -0.75% in 2009. That situation has not arisen, as I understand it, since the 1980s. While I was only a child in the 1980s, I knew times were tough. Once again, we must prepare for tough times.

There has been much comment in regard to the Minister for Finance's call to patriotic duty. I am happy to answer that call and to act in solidarity in regard to the collective hard times facing us. However, let this not be seen as my condoning certain aspects of the budget which, I believe, could have been better and could be improved. The Green Party made representations in regard to medical cards and is currently making representations in regard to the education budget. In a few minutes I will read into the record an open letter to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, in regard to the cutbacks I am unhappy about and from where possibly this money can be recouped.

In the meantime, as a Green Party Member I very much welcome the protection extended to local government funding in terms of the 19% increase in water funding, the strong green measures within the budget, the retention of a number of public transport initiatives, substantial increases in social welfare spending, the ongoing progress of the carbon budget and increases in indirect taxes on petrol, which I welcome, and on tobacco. I believe more could have been done in regard to alcohol and betting but I will deal later with these issues.

I welcome the airport departure tax as a painless way of raising revenue. Reference was made only a few minutes ago to Weston and Baldonnel airports. It strikes me as odd that private airports are not subject to a similar tax. Perhaps the more well-off travellers taking off from and landing at these airports should be asked to pay a higher levy. I would welcome an initiative in this regard.

My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will bring forth a raft of measures in the coming weeks to build on the progress made last year in regard to energy, including tax allowances for the purchase of sophisticated equipment for electricity provision and more efficient data server systems. I welcome the ending of decentralisation and the costs associated with same. I stated that I welcome the social welfare allowances, including the €10 increase in the threshold for the family income supplement.

I want to deal with education. There is much to welcome in the education budget. While I am conscious the increase in the budget for the Department of Education and Science was not enough, it is one of three Departments that received an increase. There are some measures worth welcoming, including the €80 million increase in the allocation for 2008 on the capital side. This includes €581 million for the schools capital programme which is, unfortunately, marginally down to a figure of €586 million. However, it will allow the Department, as the Minister outlined, to complete 26 major projects, commence construction on a further 62 projects and meet the requirements of 100 other smaller projects.

I welcome the 44% increase in third level funding and the increase in research and development. I pay tribute on the substantive increase in capitation funding by €21.42 at primary level, giving a total of €200 per pupil, which is real progress, and the continuing progress on the second level side. I welcome the additional €10 million to fund and enhance measures for children with special educational needs pending full implementation of the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act. I regret that Act has not yet been implemented and I concur with the remarks made by Opposition Deputies in that regard. The increase of €40 million to cover the full-year costs of additional special needs assistants is also welcome.

While one cannot criticise the entire education budget, some valid concerns have been raised. I am aware the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, is in China. I will e-mail the following letter to him later. It is an open letter which I will read into the record lest anyone thinks I am not willing to go on the public record in respect of this matter.

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