Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for their contributions. It is difficult to listen to a representative of Fianna Fáil talk about making economic choices. They ruined the country and crashed the economy and we have spent the past five years picking up the pieces after them.

I will refer to a number of issues raised by Deputy Sean Fleming. He mentioned a bonanza increase in taxes outside the control of the Government. The reason corporate taxes are up is corporations are making profits again. More people are at work and we have rebuilt a successful economic model. That is the reason more cash is flowing into the State coffers and that we can plan with some confidence into the future. We have put the dark days of Fianna Fáil behind us and we can look to, and plan with a sense of optimism for, the future. However, there are challenges and there are legacy issues, some of which the Deputy mentioned. Homelessness is an issue and that is why this year we reversed a decade of Fianna Fáil policy during which not a single social housing unit was built. The party abandoned the concept of social housing and funding local authorities to buy or lease properties from developers. We are building social housing again. A total of 3,000 units were provided this year, with in excess of that number to be built next year ,while an additional 10,000 people will receive the housing assistance payment. There will be more gardaí as well 2,260 more teachers. Under the new early childhood programme, 75,000 children will get a second free year of preschool education.

Flooding is an important issue right now and that is why climate change and flood prevention featured so prominently in the capital programme. Over the next six years, we will expend more money than was spent over the past 20 years on flood defences. We will spend more than that if we have the capacity to do so because I have requested the OPW to outline how much could be spent year-by-year. That will our No. 1 priority. Proper flood defences need to be provided. People are looking at the weather forecast and, unfortunately, another inundation is due over the country in the next 24 hours. Every State agency has been mobilised to try to mitigate the damage as much as possible for the poor, unfortunate families that face having their homes flooded. We have established two separate funds. One will be administrated through the Red Cross to deal with businesses that were never compensated in the past.

The Department of Social Protection has a €10 million fund to help households that have special needs payments immediately on foot of damage done. Unfortunately, more might be done because of the dreadful weather we have been experiencing.

The final point relates to capital carry-over, which is a good budgeting issue. Rather than people scrambling at the end of the year to spend money because they must, where a project cannot be concluded for planning, objection, legal or a variety of reasons, a proportion can be carried into next year. The amount I am recommending is less than 3% of the capital programme. That is prudent, wise and a good way to do our business.

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