Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Budget 2019 has been framed with an unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis, issues in health such as extensive waiting lists, bed capacity and the recruitment and retention of staff, and crucial Brexit talks looming large. With that in mind, Fianna Fáil is committed to providing stability during the crucial Brexit talks. While other parties refused to play any part in forming a Government, Fianna Fáil stepped up to the mark. Our approach to this budget was to provide that stability and to address serious policy issues. We want delivery on issues that matter and the delivery of better outcomes.

Budget 2019 will provide the funding, but the onus is on the Government and the various Departments to deliver. Delivery is the key issue here - delivery of homes, delivery of access to health services, which can no longer be dependent on one's address or a postcode lottery, and delivery of the services paid for by the taxpayers. In agreeing to a third budget, we have provided economic stability for 2019 while we face the consequences of the UK exiting the EU. We are all hopeful of a Brexit deal as it is in the interest of the island of Ireland. The focus of the Government should now be on successfully concluding the Brexit talks.

As my party's spokesperson for older people, I welcome the measures that will give some additional comfort to pensioners. The additional week's payment of the winter fuel allowance, increasing it to 28 weeks per year, the €5 per week increase in the pension and the reduction in prescription charges will put more money in older people's pockets. The return of the 100% Christmas bonus is welcome for those on limited fixed incomes, and it is an essential payment for older people. However, once again, no consideration was given to the living alone allowance which remains at €9. This is my third budget debate and my third time to raise this issue. This budget did not address the living alone allowance, but we must recognise the higher costs faced by people living alone. When a couple depends on the State pension and one of them dies, the surviving partner is plunged into a financial crisis as well as trying to cope with the bereavement. After six weeks the pension entitlements of the deceased stop and the remaining spouse or partner receives €9. However, it still costs the same to run the home and to pay for light, heat, insurance, telephone and general utilities. I hope to see some movement on incrementally increasing this for those who are dependent on the State pension as their only source of income.

The state of our health services continues to be hugely challenging. I stood outside Leinster House today to pay my respects to Emma Mhic Mhathúna. To see her coffin passing and her five children following it was heartbreaking. Emma wanted a health service that we can all be proud of, not a political football. It is essential there is all-party agreement on delivering the recommendations in the Scally report as a matter of priority. We owe this to Emma, to Julie who also passed away this week and to all the women affected.

I welcome the additional funds for the NTPF and the waiting lists. Orthopaedic procedures for knee and hip replacements and cataract procedures can clearly improve the quality of life. It is essential that we get delivery on these.

The HSE service plan for 2019 will outline how the increase in health funding will benefit citizens. I hope there will be funding for the roll-out of a national dementia advisers programme to support people and families who are given a diagnosis of dementia. There are 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland at present, with a further 11 people diagnosed every day. It is expected that the number of people living with dementia will exceed 100,000 in the next 20 years. Despite this, there are just eight dementia advisers covering 12 counties. Large areas of the country are without access to this important service. Access to services such as this should not come down to a postcode lottery. People with dementia and their families need the support of dementia advisers. I believe there will be movement on this issue. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, last night and to give credit where it is due, we have been working well together on this over the past 12 months, so I am hopeful. Additional specific ring-fenced funding to support people living with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis is also vital.

Older people deserve to enjoy their retirement in the comfort of their own homes. However, this is not always possible as ill-health can become an issue. Home help hours and home care packages have also been increased, but we must wait for the details of these increases. They are vital to free up acute hospital beds, step-down facilities and to support nursing homes. The lack of home care hours is a constant issue and I compliment carers who do heroic work every day.

The housing situation is at crisis point. All sectors are affected and are under pressure. Some 10,000 people are currently homeless, including 3,700 children. Housing is the key test for this budget. Everyone needs and deserves a safe and secure roof over their head. The dream of home ownership continues to be a dream; previously it became a reality for most. Affordable housing is essential to having a functional housing market. Many couples are outside the limits to apply for social housing, but it is impossible for hard-pressed couples to afford the cost of housing and the deposit required as most of their income goes on rent. In this budget, we secured a new €100 million per annum affordable housing fund. This investment will construct at least 6,000 homes by 2021. The fund will act a subsidy to local authorities for building the unit which is then sold to the buyer at build price minus the subsidy. The money from the sales is then recycled into building more homes. It will be open to single earner households with income of up to €50,000 and households with dual incomes of up to €75,000. The average home price will be just over €200,000.

Social housing is also a major issue. The capital budget for social housing has been increased and there is an expansion of direct build targets for the Rebuilding Ireland programme. The budget has increased from €1.065 billion to €1.25 billion, with some 10,000 units due to be built, acquired or leased next year. This is a start but, again, the key issue is delivery. A further €60 million has been targeted at homelessness. While not sufficient, it is a step in the right direction for ending the scandal of homeless families living in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation.

Last week as I entered the carpark of a local hotel at which I was staying, I noticed four children, two of whom were teenagers, and an adult getting out of a car. The children were in school uniforms and as they collected their school bags and clothes and headed into the hotel at approximately 9 p.m. I wondered where they were going to do their homework, play, eat and wash. We must put an end to this dependence on accommodating families in hotels. It is a disgrace and it must be tackled as a matter of priority.

The budget has also allowed us to reform the planning process to speed up the approval process for local authorities. Planning for projects of fewer than 25 homes will now go through an accelerated process. This should allow local authorities to fast-track small developments and cut through bureaucracy and red tape. Local authorities know their areas. They know where the demand is and they know how to deliver. They did so for many years, but not so in the last ten years. They must now be equipped with sufficient skills and expertise to carry out their core duties of delivering housing.

I am disappointed with the increase in the VAT rate for the tourism sector. I accept the Minister's point that the reduced rate was a short-term approach to kick-start the tourism industry. However, the boom in the Dublin hotel industry is not comparable to the hotel industry in Dungarvan or Waterford city or to the small tea rooms and restaurants that provide much needed employment locally that will suffer as a result of this increase. The rate could have been increased over a two year timeframe to reduce the impact on small businesses that have committed to bookings for up to two years in advance.

This is not a Fianna Fáil budget but from opposition, we have done our best to give effect to our own policies.

See this speech in context