Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Again, I take the point. I have not included social housing and the Deputy is right; we need to do that as well. I am going from memory as I do not have the figures in front of me but spending before the lifetime of this Government was about €10 million and has increased to about €90 million last year. A 900% increase in spending is not small. What is an increase from €40 million to €210 million? Is it 800%? Can somebody do the maths quickly for me? It is a 500% increase. That is not small. If we achieve a 500% increase again, that would be transformative and there is nothing to stop us because of the carbon tax. Carbon tax in this country is progressive, protects the poor, improves social equality, delivers guaranteed funding and helps address the problem as well provide for the solution. The Deputy opposes to it at every turn, but it works. It delivers social justice through increased spending on the warmer homes scheme. I am glad to hear the Deputy say that the latter is an excellent scheme. It is one we need to keep growing. We will do that.

See this speech in context