Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Following two years of a near-total shutdown, the Government is only willing to finance an additional €200,000 for the arts and culture sector and an onslaught against the city's heritage is unfolding as we speak, with no effort whatsoever in this budget to stop or reverse that rot. Ní gá dúinn ach féachaint, mar shampla, ar Shráid an Mhóraigh. An bhfuil aon rud sa Bhille Airgeadais nó sa bhuiséad chun an oidhreacht ar an tsráid is stairiúla in Éirinn a chosaint, a chaomhnú agus a athmhúscailt do na glúnta atá romhainn?

Similarly, there is nothing in the Bill to finance the continuation of the Digital Hub and Development Agency, which was funded by the State. Despite creating and enhancing jobs in one of the most disadvantaged areas of this city and country, the State is not just closing up shop but giving away the land and building on which it spent hundreds of millions of euro to the Land Development Agency, contrary to the purpose of the digital hub in the first instance. It is not sustainable to move all the jobs to outside the city centre core, which this will do.

If the Government was serious about the survival of our cultural sector, there would be a strong stimulus package, as we in Sinn Féin outlined in our proposal for a recovery voucher of €200 for every adult and €100 per child.

That would put the wind in the sails of the recovery we need and could revitalise the arts along the way. It should be remembered that the majority of every euro spent in this fashion makes its way back to the State in taxes anyway, but on the way it lifts the arts, hospitality, culture and the tourism industry. Instead we have artists kicked off the PUP and cuts to live entertainment on the way.

There are other important questions the Minister may be able to answer. Has there been any effort to address the ridiculous situation of people with disabilities being required to pay VAT at 23% to rent vital disability aids such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and walking frames? The Minister responded earlier in the year to a question I asked about this and said it was basically an EU problem, but we are meant to be part of the EU, so what is our Minister for Finance doing to fix this? Why is it not reflected in this Bill?

What about VAT for bands and musicians, in respect of whom the EU allows member states to apply a reduced rate, as happens in France, Belgium, Spain and elsewhere? This State chooses not to follow their lead. Has any analysis been done on how we could use the taxation system to support living artists, not just dead ones?

Tá mo chuid ama istigh. D'fhéadfainn a lán eile a rá faoin mBille ach níl an deis anois agam. B'fhéidir go ndéanfaidh mé é sin ar Chéim an Choiste.

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