Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the budget. I acknowledge the work of my colleagues in the Independent Alliance in the preparation of the budget with our partners in government and with the other Independents.

The budget, as delivered, is based on the programme for Government and has demonstrated that this Government can deliver. In my own Department, the budget recognises the importance of flood relief, and I have succeeded in securing additional funding to put resources in place to deliver our very ambitious programme of flood relief. I reassure the House that flood relief is high on the Government's agenda. My Department will have 12 major flood relief schemes under construction by the end of this year, compared with four projects in 2015. This marks a sign of huge progress in the area of flood relief. The €430 million capital expenditure previously announced for flood relief is intact, and we will spend €50 million more this year. I intend to continue with flood relief measures and will increase spending annually up to €100 million by 2019.

I cite the fairness of this budget in implementing a suite of financial measures to help the most vulnerable people in our society. The reduction in prescription charges and the increase in the Christmas bonus to 85% are very important measures that complement the €5 increase per week in pensions across the full range of social welfare recipients.

The plight of farmers has been well documented, and the measures in the budget go some way to assisting them, including the €25 million sheep grant, changes to the farm assist scheme, additional places in the rural social scheme and making available cheap finance to help farmers over this difficult period.

The self-employed are also recognised in this budget. They are the backbone of job creation. The invalidity pension and dental, optical and medical appliance schemes will be extended to the self-employed, and there is also an increase in their tax credits, which is also very important.

The extension of the VAT refund scheme to refurbishment works for another two years is a vital component in keeping the fledgling construction industry moving along. It will be of major benefit to builders and suppliers as well as to the craftsmen we have in this country who need that very work to keep their families fed. I also welcome the scheme for first-time house buyers, despite the utterances of Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am a little disappointed that he did not enter into the negotiations on the formation of a Government at the start of this Dáil. He would have made a fine Minister for Health or Minister for Social Protection if he had brought his ideas to those negotiations last March rather than keeping them cooped up only to splutter them out now when he sees a good budget.

Finally, I accept that we cannot deliver everything required in the programme in one year. This partnership Government commits to being a caring, just and responsible Government, and this budget is a first step on that path. I hope we will produce many more caring and just budgets in the future.

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