Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Dáil comes to the end of its term, it would be useful to paint a picture of the Government's achievements in the past five years. There is no better way of doing this than giving a comparative rundown to show how my county of Donegal has fared since the Government came to power. There are 31,000 people suffering from fuel poverty, up 10,000 since 2014. In 2013, 18,700 people were suffering from food poverty, according to a survey carried out by Mandate and Unite. Outpatient waiting lists at Letterkenny University Hospital have soared by 70%, while the number seeking day case appointments has increased by 50%. Some 60% of the population of the county have medical cards, while 16,241 were on the live register in December. Up to 20,000 young people have emigrated from the county, leaving, according to the NASC, high levels of deprivation and high dependency ratios behind them. Only eight of 149 electoral divisions have figures above the national average for deprivation indicators.

The level of Enterprise Ireland supported job creation increased by 2% in the north-west region in 2015. Ballybofey, County Donegal has the highest commercial property vacancy rate, at over 28%, according to An Post's geodirectory survey. Some 52% of households in the county will have to rely on State intervention to get broadband and will have to wait until 2021 to see this objective realised. Disposable income in the county is at 80% of the national average. Social transfers make up 40% of household disposable income in the county. A total of 1,485 farmers depend on farm assist to supplement their incomes, while 101 primary schools are working with reduced teaching staff. Approximately 67% of third level students from the county are in receipt of SUSI grants. According to the Central Bank, in February 2015 some 15% of homeowners were in serious mortgage arrears, with hundreds of repossession cases before the courts every month. Add to this the cuts in expenditure, including the reduction of €182,000 since 2009 for the Donegal Centre of Independent Living, and the resulting inability to provide care supports for people with disabilities in a county in which over 21,000 people are suffering from a disability.

Meanwhile, on the Tánaiste's watch, according to the CSO, the top 10% of income earners in the country hold over 54% of income, with the top 1% holding 15% of its entire wealth. Budget 2016 has accelerated this trend, with tax changes such as the cut in USC benefiting those on incomes of €70,000 and above. Is this a record of which the Tánaiste is proud? Based on this, why should the people of County Donegal and Ireland allow Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil another term in office?

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