Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to address the House on what is the biggest budget in the history of the State, with an increase eight times bigger than that in last year's budget. The Government strategy in this budget is to protect those sectors which are vulnerable but viable to ensure we have the capacity, once this pandemic subsides, to absorb the demand in key sectors. With that in mind, it is very important we stand behind our local authorities and that we have achieved a rates waiver extension up to December. This is important considering 30% of local authority income is made up of the rates fund, and it will give local authorities certainty into the future as they plan their budgets in November. It is also important that we work to ensure we give certainty through goods and services income. It takes a huge amount of income to run local authorities, from swimming pools to parking charges, and we need to support them in that regard.

It is vital that businesses in provincial towns are supported and this funding will give them certainty. Some €192 million will go to support local authorities through the local government fund, an increase of €36 million on last year. When meeting members of Dublin City Council through the community call forum, I was impressed to see at first hand over a short space of time the methods they have built up to help the most vulnerable in our society, working with State agencies and other bodies to deliver to the most vulnerable on the ground. It is also important that, through our local authorities, we have an increase in funding for Traveller accommodation to €5.8 million from €4.7 million, together with housing adaptation grants for the elderly and those with disabilities. Again, it is very important in a time of stress during the pandemic that we are supporting the most vulnerable in our society.

Planning is a key issue. There is an increase in funding for the urban regeneration and development fund, an important fund that will unlock the potential of many towns up and down the country and, through the local authorities, give them a chance to be ambitious. It was important to secure additional funding in that regard. There is also funding for the Land Development Agency to continue its good work. It will, hopefully, be put on a statutory footing soon in order to deliver homes for society as quickly as possible on public land.

As we try to plan and chart our way out of this pandemic, it is important such bodies are supported, which this budget has done. It is framed clearly to protect the most vulnerable, to support local authorities and to ensure the planning system is robust in order to fulfil the national planning framework, which is important in regard to how we guide and shape our society over the coming decades.

With regard to the €14 million in funding for emergency services, which is a 15% increase on last year's funding, this is supporting the first responders in our society to ensure they have the resources to carry out their work and to protect our society. It is very important to support first responders.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House on the budget, the first budget on which I have the privilege to serve in this office.

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