James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I spent the last week listening to the contributions of other Members on budget 2015 with great interest. I first entered this Chamber in May 2007 and for the first time in seven years I have seen the introduction of a non-austerity budget. I am pleased about that and I commend the Ministers, Deputy Noonan and Howlin, for their hard work to date.

This is the coalition Government's fourth budget and the measures introduced in budget 2015 are a clear sign that we have turned a corner in the economic cycle. It is very important that this economic recovery spreads out to the regions, particularly the midlands. After seven years of austerity measures, some of which were necessary for this country's financial survival, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for the Irish people.

In his contribution the Minister, Deputy Noonan, acknowledged that many people have not yet experienced the fruits of recovery. He is right. There is still a large section of society that needs some support from Government. Regardless of what the Opposition says, it is clear to me and Members on the Government benches that the concessions in tax and welfare will benefit the families who have yet to feel the positive effects of economic recovery.

I have limited speaking time in this debate and as a result I will focus my comments on agriculture. Budget 2015 was a very good budget for thousands of farming families and rural communities across the country. For the first time since 2009, the agriculture budget has been increased. The agricultural measures introduced will allow us achieve the maximum potential from our biggest home industry.

I come from a rural constituency where farming is the lifeblood of the community. In past years there were only three routes to starting a career in farming: one had to inherit a farm, buy a farm or marry into a farming family. However, thanks to measures introduced in this budget we are sending out a clear message that anyone who wants to do so can enter farming.

This budget will make it easier to get land into the hands of young productive farmers. The 50% rise in income tax exemption levels for all long-term leases is a good example of the incentives we need to make land available and accessible to young farmers. We can now realistically aspire to having a larger and more sustainable group of young farmers driving this industry.

I have raised the issue of farm safety many times in this House. As a farmer I have a history of near misses in that regard. As the saying goes, complacency is the enemy of success and when it comes to farm safety, there is no room for complacency. Regardless of one's experience or how well one knows the farm, the machinery or the animals, there is always the possibility of a serious or fatal accident occurring.

According to the Health and Safety Authority, farming is the most dangerous occupation in the country. Unfortunately, this year's statistics reinforce that bleak reality. This year alone, 23 people have been killed. That is 23 families who have lost a loved one as a result of a farming accident. I congratulate the Minister in the strongest possible manner on the announcement of the €12 million farm safety scheme. The scheme is subject to EU approval but when enacted it will provide 40% grants to a maximum of €20,000 for safety-related farm improvements.

I hope this will work to reduce the number of fatalities on farms.

I also welcome the decision to retain the 9% value added tax, VAT, rate for the hospitality sector. This will help create a significant number of jobs in rural Ireland. In my home county, Longford, the reduction in VAT on food and tourism services since July 2011 has been a fantastic success. In Longford alone ,173 jobs have been created. In my neighbouring county, Westmeath, a total of 412 jobs have been created since July 2011, according to the report from the Restaurant Association of Ireland, as a result of maintaining the 9% rate. I believe I will be in a position to again tell Members of this House how decisions taken last week will have resulted in the creation of even more jobs in the food, tourism and hospitality sector in the midlands.

The decision to increase the living-alone allowance to €9 a week is important, particularly for those in rural Ireland. Rural isolation has always been a serious issue and I am glad the Minister has recognised this and increased the allowance. I am also very pleased to see the allocation of €1 million for the establishment of the rural innovation and development fund. Rural areas such as the midlands have yet to feel the effect of economic recovery. This fund will support innovation and small scale pilot initiatives that are designed to aid our economic recovery. The fund will support rural communities. I am pleased to see it is part of the wider programme to support and encourage economic development in rural Ireland.

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