Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let us start with the positives. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, who has just left the Chamber, outlined €6 million in funding under the national drugs strategy. I welcome that, although it is not enough. I look forward to seeing the detail of where it will be spent. I welcome also the €1.7 million provided for the HSE drug and alcohol service nationwide, which will also be used to identify under-18s and families affected by drug use. There are a few measures I can welcome, and where there are positives, I will recognise them. Even so, that a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs strategy would come to the Chamber and not to talk about the drug and alcohol task forces is unbelievable. These are the people on the front line.

I am disappointed the Minister of State is no longer here. Earlier, I attended a very informative meeting of the Sub-Committee on Mental Health in respect of addiction, which was attended by various groups. Based on what the Minister of State outlined, I wonder whether he has ever met any of the task forces. The number one issue the task forces nationally have raised with me when I have met them relates to the fact the funding that was decimated in 2008 has never been returned. I refer to task forces, communities, youth groups and family support networks. This is the Government's second budget but it is the 14th budget since this funding was slashed, yet it still has not been restored. I implore the Minister of State, although he is not here so I will ask his party colleagues and Government colleagues, to help the people on the front line working with those in the throes of addiction and those on the journey to recovery, and to give the people providing the services the support they so badly need.

There is so much more I wanted to mention but I will make one more point. More than 120 rehab beds were closed because of Covid-19, along with 48 detox beds. The Keltoi centre was closed during the pandemic too. We need these services to be open now. Here we are talking about a budget for 2022 and more than 150 beds were closed in Keltoi, which played a unique and important role. Will this be dealt with urgently?

On a personal note, there is nothing in the budget for ordinary people in my constituency in Cork. When they woke up this morning, they did not feel this budget had made a difference to them. What they did feel is that there were tax breaks for landlords but not for renters and that there was a reduction in levies for speculators but not for the people who need it the most. People have said to me today that there is not a single measure for ordinary people in the budget. With my parochial hat on, I note there is no northern ring road, no hospital, college or investment in jobs for the north side of Cork city, and no apprenticeships. Where are the truly affordable homes that my constituents are crying out for? There are many fivers in this budget but there is no change for people.

This is a really big missed opportunity for the Government. If it had listened to what the people have been calling for all along, it could have made a real difference. I am very disappointed. This is a failed budget. I hope that when the Government reviews what has happened, it will make the proper changes.

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