Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)

Tá na ciorruithe sa bhuiséad seo ag cur isteach ar na daoine is boichte sa sochaí seo. Tá sé deacair a thuiscint go bhfuil lámh ag Páirtí an Lucht Oibre iontu, mar tá cuma ar an scéal go bhfuil na ciorruithe cumtha ag Fine Gael.

Most people will judge this budget over the next couple of weeks and by then they will have seen the effects and bones of what it means to them. We should judge it as to whether all sections of our society are treated fairly, and the least well off are protected. So far, the omens are not good. We have seen mainly Labour Ministers standing over what are glaringly unjustifiable decisions. What planet was the Minister on when she thought that disability could be cut from anyone aged from 16 to 24? The ensuing roll-back is an example of the complete disconnect between herself, her Department, her party and the ordinary people.

The huge cut of 66% in the training and materials grant from €1,500 to €500 is a death-knell for community employment schemes throughout the country. In the case of Finglas meals-on-wheels, which delivers 600 meals a week to senior citizens, people with mental health problems and those with referrals, it will be the death-knell of this project. Some 33 people are employed there, 27 of them on CE schemes. After 18 years' service to the community, they are gone at the stroke of a pen. Glór na Gael in Ballymun is another example of CE losses. Local GAA clubs across the country will be affected, including ones in my own area such as Erin's Isle, Setanta and other community projects that do invaluable work throughout their communities.

We also know that cuts are intended in the drugs task forces. Such projects are on their knees after years of austerity, leaving them with no alternative but to cut frontline services. We are cutting resources to the Garda Síochána and closing down Garda stations such as Whitehall, while limiting other stations such as Santry and Cabra. The cuts the Minister has put in place will have major consequences in terms of crime, as well as other effects.

We have consistently argued that this is not necessary, and there is a better way. There are wealthy people who may even agree that they can make a bigger sacrifice. The trick is to ask them. Having a cap of €100,000 on wages in these crippling times would be a price worth paying for the sake of the country, its people and our children. There should be a new tax rate on earnings over €100,000 and a wealth tax of 1% payable by those with assets over €1 million. The gambling debts of bondholders should not be paid. At tomorrow's summit the Government should stand up for the rights of the people by stating the current position is unacceptable.

We all accept that there is a budget deficit that must be closed. I am pleading with the Minister to reconsider, however, as the cuts to community employment schemes will have detrimental effects across the country. I spoke to the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, who has worked on projects such as the local drugs task forces with me. She knows how people are suffering and how meals on wheels services are being delivered in Finglas. She knows the line on which people are treading. Therefore, I plead with the Minister to row back on the cuts to community employment schemes as a matter of urgency.

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