Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have tabled two of these questions. The Taoiseach has frequently praised the work of the Economic Management Council because it supposedly keeps a very close eye on all economic and fiscal issues. Does he not agree that given the lack of progress on homelessness and housing it seems the Economic Management Council, despite having 15 meetings in more recent times, is not in as much control of the situation as the Taoiseach might have thought previously? Despite economic growth, more than 1,500 children, an 80% increase, live in emergency accommodation and up to 5,000 people are homeless. There is policy chaos around housing and homelessness.

The Economic Management Council must keep a close eye on the fiscal situation, but on the Friday before the budget approximately €700 million was allocated to health on top of last year's €600 million supplementary budget. There seems to be either gross mismanagement or deliberate fraudulent estimates in health at the outset of the year, where clearly the budgets allocated are not realistic, adequate or robust enough, despite what the Minister says at the beginning of every year. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, stated he had received enough. Clearly he did not and neither did he get enough the previous year. Does the Taoiseach believe the model of the Economic Management Council is adequate, because the health services are in chaos? There is no stability in our health services at present. They are in chaos. Morale is very low. Staffing and supports have been under-resourced. We pointed out to the Taoiseach four key areas where savings revenue could be raised to support health services, including the recouping of fees from private medical insurers, agency staff, drug procurement and a tax on sugar sweetened drinks. We backed this up with research from the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Fiscal Advisory Council, the Department of Finance's report and the Revenue Commissioners with regard to a tax on sugar sweetened drinks.

The Economic Management Council's grip and impact on policy seems to be less and less influential. We have no idea about the extension of free GP care to 12 year olds because the money allocated does not go anywhere near a full extension. One wonders if it is like the promises made five years ago, in that they are not real in the sense of any commitment to implement them over the coming 12 months. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, has already clarified that not every child will be covered by the child care commitment in the budget and that it will be September at the earliest before the programme is introduced. Is the Economic Management Council overseeing all of this? The money needed to fulfil commitments made by Ministers is not provided, with the result that we have budgetary figures which are best open to question and, in some instances such as health, are in my view clearly very dishonest.

I do not know how the Economic Management Council of the Cabinet can stand over what has happened in health budgets over the past three years, particularly their inaccuracy, dishonesty and falsity. False figures are being given to the Dáil every year for health services.

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