Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would be wrong of me to come in here and condemn the budget from start to finish. There were positive points in respect of the VAT rate, the availability of defibrillators, free schoolbooks for primary school students and the 0% VAT rate for newspapers. Those are positive steps in the right direction. There are, however, many weaknesses in this budget that need to be exposed. I have received a number of calls from builders today, including from one woman whose husband and son are building. They are devastated with what the Government has done by introducing the 10% tax on concrete products. It is an astonishing situation we find ourselves in that such a tax will be applied next year. People are trying to build homes at an already considerable cost. They will probably now have to renegotiate their mortgages. The State is going to have to pick up the tab and renegotiate new prices in respect of council housing that is being built. The extra 10% levies will apply all the way to concrete floors. It will apply to ready mix and concrete block products. It is a terrible infliction on decent, honest people who had nothing to do with the issues caused by pyrite.

I have many worries in respect of our health services, some of which might be ironed out as the day goes on. We have often heard that the devil is in the detail but I hope that is not the case here. I fought bravely for Parkinson's sufferers and neurologist nurses. I do not know if measures in that regard are going to be announced by the Minister for Health. It seems a lot of money is to be allocated to health but we do not know where it is going. We badly want some funds released to mental health services. I mentioned the situation in Bantry General Hospital to the Taoiseach earlier. The hospital has lost seven beds in its mental health unit. I hope there is a budget set aside to address that. Will money be put forward for the endoscopy and stroke units in the hospital? The Taoiseach and another Fianna Fáil Deputy keep singing and talking about that issue but there is not a block in the ground.

In respect of fuel and energy, many people misread the budget document. As it was printed, it seemed as if the Government was reducing the cost of diesel by 16 cents. People thought that would provide some relief for the mothers and fathers throughout the country who are struggling. Sadly, the devil was in the detail. When looked at in more detail, that is just a continuation of a relief that was given before. That is farcical. Carbon taxes are going up next week. The Government is going to try to offset that somehow but there will not be one brown cent for the people reliant on home heating oil or diesel or petrol cars. The Government has not put a price cap on the electricity companies. People are still paying hundreds of euro in standing charges.

There has been a drop in the transport budget. Areas from Dunmanway to Clonakilty, Drimoleague to Skibbereen, Ballineen to Goleen, Bantry and Gort have received no extra transport services in the two and a half years the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has been in government. He is supposed to have a super new dream of connecting Ireland. The Government has provided no extra transport service. That is not going down well in rural Ireland. We are paying for all the carbon tax. We have every right to kick up a fuss and ask why we do not have public transport. In all the time he has been in government, the Minister has not provided one extra service.

Relief has been given on the diesel for fishing throughout the world, where it is appreciated. The French and everybody else are giving some relief to fisherman but, sadly, we are not. I spoke last night about farmers, education and capitation grants.

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