Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have said this in every one of my budget speeches over the last three years but I find this whole debate a bit of a farce. We knew exactly what would be in the budget long before it was laid before us. I read the full breakdown of budget measures in The Irish Times yesterday, which is beyond ridiculous. Why do we continue with the farce of a budget day special when it is all out there already anyway?

I find it very cynical of the Government to manufacture a week's worth of budget coverage to distract from its many failings, as well as other important issues. I am sure it suits the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to have the budget this week, as well as all the pre-budget coverage last week, to distract from his secret call to assure the Israeli finance minister that the Government would block the occupied territories Bill. This is a disgraceful and deceitful move by the Minister and one that will not be forgotten over a package of one-off measures, because that is all this budget amounts to. It is not the systematic change that is so desperately needed. It is just a lacklustre repeat of the previous years' budgets, with very little for the public to be truly hopeful about.

The budget offers absolutely nothing in the way of long-term change or improved access to services. It merely throws out a couple of euro to everyone in the audience, including those who do not require it, in a desperate attempt to keep as many people as possible happy in an election year. When the Government took this approach three years ago, its argument was that a targeted approach would take time to figure out and ensure. Yet, this excuse falls flat when the Government continues to throw money at those who will not even notice its presence and refuses to ensure targeted measures and funding are aimed at those struggling to get by. It is disgraceful that the budget treats both these groups the same. This is far from the equitable society the Minister promised.

For starters, this document does nothing to actively address the worst housing and homelessness crisis in the history of the State. We have recorded more than 14,000 homeless people in the country. The Simon Communities of Ireland, in its recent report entitled Hidden Homelessness, revealed that hidden homelessness impacts a further 30,000 across the island of Ireland. There is no affordable housing available for those looking to buy a home. Any TD who spends time in his or her constituency office will know this. House prices will only continue to rise. In Donegal, prices in the third quarter of 2024 were 12% higher than a year previously. The average price of a home in Donegal is now 65% above the level of that at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. The Government's responses are to increase the threshold so that fewer people will have to pay inheritance tax and to extend the help-to-buy scheme. This scheme does nothing but push up house prices and very few people are actually even eligible for the scheme, given that it only intended for houses built after 2017. One will find very few houses built after 2017 in rural Ireland and so the Government's claim that it is helping all first-time buyers is just not true. Builders are the ones being helped by this scheme.

The first home shared equity scheme is just as ineffective because it only applies to new-build houses. However, the budget 2025 expenditure report details that a further €80 million will be spent on the scheme, while, shockingly, only a meagre €21 million will be spent on Traveller-specific accommodation and just €70 million will be set aside for the remediation of homes affected by the defective concrete blocks and apartment defects. Some €210 million is needed to ensure a 100% redress for homeowners affected by defective blocks alone. Despite this, there is not a single mention of the defective blocks' scheme in the budget. This is a disgrace and shows that the Government has no compassion for affected homeowners.

Neither does it seem to have care for the one in two people in Ireland who will experience a mental health difficulty, either directly or indirectly. Mental health was not a priority in last year's budget and barely got a mention, despite the fact that just €1 spent on mental health returns €18 to the State. I am disappointed but not surprised to see that this year's budget is not much better. Again, allocated funding for mental health is far below any other health funding. It is clear that the Government does not take mental health seriously enough. I welcome the intended funding for Traveller mental health initiatives but we have to ensure that this funding goes directly to the National Traveller Mental Health Network as is actually drawn down and used for its intended purpose, unlike Traveller-specific accommodation funding. We need to ensure a more equitable healthcare system and move away from the two-tiered system currently in place and which is encouraged by these Government policies.

Our disabled community has also, once again, been let down by this budget. We know that significant additional costs are faced by people with disabilities, which are not met by existing social welfare payments. Yet, the Government continues to contribute to a national savings account, instead of increasing payments sufficiently or establishing a permanent cost-of-disability payment. I and many DPOs have been calling for this measure for years. It should not be the case that thousands of disabled children and adults are unable to access basic support services and equipment, with this being accepted and left unaddressed. We need to establish a permanent cost-of-disability payment of at least €50 per week for disabled people and we need to abolish the means test for carers entirely. If the Minister, Deputy Chambers, meant it in his speech when he said that carers play a fundamental role in our society, then he should put his money where his mouth is.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation has advised that we need to invest in smaller class sizes. Reducing class sizes by two points has shown an improvement in student outcomes and allows teachers to deliver a quality education. We have also emphasised the need to restore the 1,700 assistant principal roles that were cut during the austerity period more than 12 years ago. This would improve school management and teacher retention. We also need to ensure a 20% increase in core grants, that is, the capitation and minor works grants, alongside increased ancillary services funding to meet the growing costs faced by schools.

We also need to invest heavily in childcare to support working families. This budget has provided a 24% increase in funding for childcare, but this extra allocation is to account for the growing number of children in the system and will not bring down the extortionate fees that parents have to pay. In his budget speech, the Minister for Finance proudly stated that almost three quarters of our working-age population is now in employment with participation by female workers at the highest level ever. This does not take into account the fact that many parents and many mothers are forced to work, given that two incomes are now required to buy a house and to get by in this country. This is not something to be proud of. I would bet that many workers would rather not be faced with the equivalent of a second mortgage to pay to access work and childcare. I was glad to see the additional allocation for foster carers but more funding should be targeted at the children as well as the carers. Carers are supporting the needs of children from their own funds and Tusla is happy for this to continue. Significant investment is needed to ensure that the rights of every child and carer are upheld and that they have equal opportunities to thrive and achieve the best possible outcomes.

The public is not interested in yet another piecemeal budget.

They want a roof over their head, access to services and to live in a country that is fair and equitable, where child poverty is eradicated and where everyone has a place to sleep that they can call home. Citizens know that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are not interested in delivering that and so will look to see what they can personally gain from the budget as the Government attempts to buy their support.

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