Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The budget is a start to get Ireland working again, secure our recovery and bring to an end the recent era of austerity budgets. The decision to reduce the top rate of income tax from 41% to 40% and to increase the standard rate tax band, above which the top rate of tax is paid, by €1,000 to €33,800 will make a significant difference to entrepreneurs, the self-employed and working families. This reduction will also boost consumer confidence, help to create an estimated 15,000 additional jobs, help to attract foreign investment and reverse immigration. Following the creation of more than 70,000 jobs our unemployment rate is now below the European average.

The absence of cuts to the health budget offers an opportunity to stabilise the delivery of services and refocus reforms. There will be an increase of €635 million in current spending on health services. Extending BreastCheck to women up to the age of 69 years will save lives as will expanding mental health teams and investing further in suicide prevention. Funding has been set aside to improve timelines for admission to emergency departments and waiting times.

Significant additional funding to the education budget will ensure 900 new classroom teachers, 480 new resource teachers and 365 new special needs assistant posts. More than 150 new schools have been built since this Government came to power and over 100 schools have been refurbished. Further investment in education is needed but economic recovery is still fragile and this Government is committed to securing the recovery, maintaining the advances that we have achieved and avoiding the boom and bust of the previous Government.

Investment in new housing infrastructure has been given priority.

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