Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted that the budget addressed other issues that concern rural Ireland, particularly the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector. I compliment the Minister for Finance on this. The rate was brilliant again this year. It is fine for people to say that hotels in Dublin are doing well. They are and we are delighted tourism is flying in Dublin. It is good that the capital city is doing well, but that VAT rate is vital for rural Ireland. The Minister could have increased the rate but he did not. He made sure the rate will remain at 9%. That is why the Wild Atlantic Way is helping Mayo, Kerry and every other county along the western seaboard. It is one of the best pieces of infrastructure that has ever been produced in this country. It is unbelievable what it has done for tourism.

The Local Link programme, which the two Deputies opposite raised, is a rural transport scheme for which we provided €16 million this year. We have increased this funding by almost €10 million. We will have almost €26 million in that programme next year. That is a great programme. It helps rural people to leave their homes to visit their local towns and post offices and to meet and communicate with other people. That is a vital scheme and we need to work with local communities on it. We have great spirit and great people and communities in rural Ireland. These communities are working and driving on together to make sure jobs are created, and it is our job to make sure this happens,

I also have responsibility for the charities regulator. I launched a report last week and it is great that this body is up and running. We have to get rid of the rogue charities which collect money that should go to charity but does not. I compliment the regulator and its board, which is doing an excellent job. A €5 million exemption was provided for charities in the budget yesterday and I compliment the Minister again in this regard. Many charities are fundraising and they are involved in capital programmes. They will now be able to reclaim the VAT on those programmes and I am delighted about that. That is good for charities. This work is driven by communities and volunteers. We are lucky to have so many volunteers in this country. They are involved in the Tidy Towns. We should consider what that competition does for every town, village and community in the country. The volunteers regularly do works that the local authority cannot do. We have beautiful towns and villages throughout the country because we have leaders and Tidy Towns committees in our communities. Next year is the 60th anniversary of the competition and I hope we will make it special. It was great to see all the excitement among the representatives of the towns and villages recently. That was their all-Ireland. They go out every day of the year to work on behalf of their community and I compliment them.

The Minister for Finance has to be complimented on the social welfare budget. The Christmas bonus is up to 85%. In difficult times in a difficult economy with little money and few resources, the Minister did a tremendous job in the budget. He has to be complimented and I am delighted to be part of this Government.

See this speech in context