Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for giving me the opportunity to discuss this most important budget, the first to be introduced by the new Government. Without a doubt, it is a Fine Gael budget, but Fianna Fáil agreed to facilitate the minority Government based on the confidence and supply agreement. Budget 2017 reflects much of the framework policy agreed to. Unlike other parties which threatened to plunge the country into another general election, Fianna Fáil stood up to the mark earlier this year and ensured we would have a stable Government. That meant we were able to avoid the political paralysis seen in Spain which is facing its third election this year. From the outside, Fianna Fáil has been able to apply pressure in a number of ways. One of the key ways in which this has happened is through the agreement that in the framing of any budget available funds would be split 2:1 in favour of public services, but on this occasion that push from the outside reached much further and there is a 3:1 split. This has enabled provision to be made for additional resource teachers to support students, additional gardaí to protect communities, additional CLÁR funding for rural communities and to allow a partial restoration of guidance counsellors in schools. The funding for ex-quota guidance counsellors is significant, but the remaining posts need to be restored to enable more students to benefit from this measure. It is important that young vulnerable people have this support available to them at a key time in their lives. The increase in teacher numbers is important and the measure will help to deal with the demand from a growing population, although the issue of pupil-teacher ratios has not been addressed. It needs to be dealt with, especially at the lower end of the scale in smaller schools where one teacher teaches first, second and third class. Smaller rural schools took a bigger hit in previous budgets.

Is ábhar buartha dom é nach bhfuil go leor airgid á chur ar fáil do Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge i mbliana. Anuas ar sin, baineadh 35% den bhuiséad caipitil don Ghaolainn agus Gaeltacht. Braithim go léiríonn sé seo neamh-shuim an Rialtais i gcúrsaí Gaolainne. Go forleathan timpeall na tíre, tá atmaisféar báúil, fuinneamh agus suim ann. Teastaíonn daoine a bheith páirteach sa Ghaolainn agus i gcúrsaí a chur chun cinn. Braithim go bhfuil an Rialtas ag caitheamh uatha an deis iontach sin atá ann. Tá sé riachtanach go rachadh an Taoiseach agus an Rialtas i ngleic leis agus go gceartóidís an botún atá déanta acu ansin.

There is no need for uncertainty as to when social welfare payments will increase. It is not good enough. The increases should be paid as quickly as possible. The money must be available, based on the figures included in the budget. The Government should be able to clear up the uncertainty and increase the payments at the earliest possible date.

The Macroom bypass project is constantly referred to as a source of anxiety for people living in my constituency. In his Budget Statement the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, referred to a number of road projects, including the Tuam and New Ross schemes but not the Macroom bypass project. Last week, when he discussed construction projects on the horizon with the CIF, he referred to a range of road scheme, including the Dunkettle interchange in Cork but overlooked the N22 road project. This is a source of serious concern for many in the mid-Cork and Kerry region. To put the matter in context, this is happening at a time when there is a disappointingly low level of investment in transport in the budget, which is causing anxiety. We are facing a mid-term review of the capital programme and the message that the Macroom bypass project must be prioritised does not seem to be getting through. It must be prioritised.

The money allocated for broadband provision is important and we will hold the Government to account on the issue. Broadband provision is important for rural communities and needs to be delivered.

Tuigim go bhfuil an t-am ag éirí gairid mar sin. Scaoilfidh mé leis.

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