Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Fitzmaurice, I understand the position very well. In the negotiations on the programme for Government, we in the Rural Independent Group lobbied for the further take-up of this very successful scheme in order to apply it to building. It was necessary at a time and we did not even have to give it to builders. We could have given it to people buying the houses in order to increase the building of houses.

This is desperately needed down the country, where the recession has not ended at all past the Red Cow interchange. It is needed in the accommodation and other services, including those dealing with food. Deputy Fitzmaurice stated a bus load of people could be put into some hotels but a train load could be put into many hotels and there would still be availability. There is not a bed to be got in this city but offices are being built so I do not know where employees will rest, unless they are worked around the clock. I do not think we are that bad yet. I do not agree with the amendment because this VAT rate is required.

Although I am straying, it is interesting because we had a debate on rural crime the other night and there was nobody to contribute from Labour, Deputy Boyd Barrett's group or Independents 4 Change. There are two different Irelands; we live in one where it is desolate, there are no services and there are not enough gardaí to patrol it. We are being stripped of services every day of the week. This is needed; we must live too outside the Pale.

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