Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Durkan and Devlin.

It is with immense sadness that we learned last night of the death of Kim Damti. I express my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Kim, many of whom I know well, including those who live in Ireland, although not her relations in Israel. There is immense sadness in County Laois today following the tragic death of Kim who had her whole life ahead of her. To lose a child in any circumstance is devastating. I pass on my personal sympathies to Kim's family, the Cooper family in Coolrain, which is only a few miles from where I live in Castletown. The family and I know each other. I also pass on my condolences to her many friends and the wider community at this time.

On budget 2024, the Government has been progressive, fair and caring. This will help low- and middle-income families and the people of Ireland. The Government has committed to people who work hard and pay taxes and to the most vulnerable in budget 2024. We are giving direct aid to families, older people and those who are on long-term welfare payments. As in the previous two budgets, we have again prioritised helping those in need and investing in public services. Along with this, the past three years have shown that Fianna Fáil in government is well capable of handling dramatic economic and social challenges. Fianna Fáil has put a big mark on this budget, with families, education, social responsibility, employment and enterprise being at the core.

I compliment the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, on announcing a range of tax reforms that will help all working people. There will be an increase in the net take-home pay for all earners, including an increase of €2,000 in the standard tax rate cut-off point. We have delivered a reduction in the USC, which is the first reduction in five years. There was a core commitment by Fianna Fáil in the programme for Government in this regard. The increase in the minimum wage by €1.40 to €12.70 per hour is also very welcome. Families and households will benefit substantially from the new energy credits, which will be worth €450 over the winter period.

Childcare costs have been cut by 25%. This follows a 25% reduction in such costs in the previous budget. The Government is steadfast in its stance of reducing childcare costs for families. This has been proven in this further reduction of costs, which will come into effect next year. Child benefit has also been extended to 18-year-olds who are still in second level education. Many people have been in contact with us on that over recent years, especially now that so many people and students in their teenage years are doing the transition year. They are taking an extra year before completing their leaving certificate, which would not have been the case if they were not doing transition year. Many families were caught by this issue of child benefit not being payable once a child was over 18, even though he or she was still in second level education. This measure is very good for education and family finances.

Budget 2024 has delivered free schoolbooks for all children up to and including third year in secondary school. The introduction of free schoolbooks for primary school children and junior cycle students has been a remarkable achievement over just two budgets. I look forward to free schoolbooks for all secondary school students at the next available opportunity. The increase of €100 in the back to school allowance will also help families. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has told me that in County Laois alone, the introduction of free schoolbooks for primary school students has relieved the demand for its services when it comes to children returning to school. The society said there was a significant reduction in the number of people who traditionally came to them for support with their back-to-school costs. It also said the fact there were free schoolbooks for primary school children was of enormous benefit to families. As a result, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have not been called into the breach on as many occasions this year as in other years. No doubt, however, many people still struggle with the cost of education. It is hoped that in due course, in the context of the achievement announced yesterday regarding free schoolbooks up to junior cycle, and when we ultimately have an announcement of free schoolbooks up to the leaving certificate, it will be a major benefit to all families. I have no doubt that the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, will continue this good work in making education more accessible for all.

Renters and people who rent houses will now receive a 50% increase in the rent tax credit, which will increase from €500 to €750 per annum. This will make a substantial difference in helping people and families who are renting.

I also welcome the extension of the rental tax credit to families and students who are paying for student accommodation in digs while they are in third-level education. Again, a lot of people came to our party on that particular issue and I am pleased it has been dealt with now. The Government also extended the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for students who are eligible for the free fees initiative. These Government initiatives will make education far more accessible for all, which has always been a key priority for Fianna Fáil.

Budget 2024 will help people with the cost of living. The Government intervened in the previous budget and has done so again in this budget. Every family will benefit from a range of measures, with the vulnerable and people in need benefiting the most. There will be an increase of €12 per week in the weekly State pension and across the board for all people on weekly social welfare payments. This is a very welcome move by the Government to help older people, carers and those with disabilities with the rise in the cost of living and of essential items at this time. A double payment will be made to all people who are in receipt of social welfare payments plus the additional lump sum payments to those receiving the fuel allowance, living alone allowance, care support, disability allowance and invalidity pension will also be a big help to many households this year. I also welcome the €54 increase in the working family payment, plus an additional lump sum payment of €400 for these families. Altogether, these new measures by the Government demonstrate this is a budget for families.

We all acknowledge housing is an issue for many people. The Government is exceeding its targets in building new homes throughout the country. In Portlaoise alone, 700 homes are under construction. Anybody who drives through the town is amazed to see the number of houses under construction. This is in addition to the hundreds of homes that were completed last year and the many more that will commence in the coming year. The Government believes in people owning their own homes, and we are totally committed to delivering and providing social housing.

As with the rising population in Ireland, there has been an increased demand on our health services. The Government has increased capital spending on delivering new projects in our health services to help meet this demand. There is an increase of 22,000 people working in the health service since we came to Government. I want to repeat that. There has been an increase of 22,000 people working in the health service since we came to Government. In Laois, the Midland Regional Hospital received a €14 million investment for the new respiratory assessment unit and an extension to the paediatric unit. Funding has also been allocated for the construction of a specialised unit and the redesign of the maternity ward in Portlaoise. A new diabetic retina screening service is also being set up in Portlaoise and will be up and running early in the new year. Genuine progress is being made by the Government in healthcare. Major investments have been made in the hospital in Abbeyleix, including step-down beds and respite beds being made available in great numbers this year for the first time in at least 20 years. In addition, a considerable capital investment programme is under way at St. Vincent's hospital in Mountmellick. None of these are promises for the future. These are things that are actually happening during this calendar year, and everybody who visits those towns will see them actually happening.

In my own Department of Foreign Affairs we are committed in budget 2024 to reaching out and making people-to-people links with our Irish people abroad. Supporting Irish people abroad remains a key priority for this Government and for me as Minister of State with responsibility for international development and the diaspora. Ireland has a strong tradition of providing funding support to some of the poorest communities in the world, and we continue to do so with this budget. Budget 2024 supports working people and families. It will help our older people, families and people living on their own. This is a good and caring budget. All fair-minded people will see that. The Government has put the people first in this budget.

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