Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Of course, we do not need to look in the crystal ball when it comes to Sinn Féin's housing policy. All we have to do is look at its abject failing on housing in Northern Ireland where there is no action, no increase in home building and no expansion in social or affordable housing. Next year, we will see new records on home building in critical sectors in this country, and a further acceleration of the progress delivered by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and this Government. There is a long way to go, but progress is clear.

We believe in the importance of public services. We believe in the essential role of government in ensuring the public has access to high-quality public services, which deliver clear outcomes for them. The challenge of expanding access and quality in health remains and we are again demonstrating our commitment to a public health service that is there when people need it and that helps people to live longer, healthier lives. My party eagerly took up the challenge of leading the Department of Health when we entered government, and the facts show a deep and lasting programme of investment and development in our health services since then.

It is absolutely correct that people point out where there are failings and problems in the health system. It is equally wrong to refuse to acknowledge the progress we are seeing. There has been an unprecedented expansion in the number of health professionals delivering care. Waiting lists are falling. New primary care centres are serving people throughout the country. As with all major staffing expansions in complex areas, the impact of these staff will continue to increase rapidly. With almost 1,200 extra acute hospital beds available and a rapid advance of services into new specialisms, we are seeing an historic expansion in our public health services. A revolution in specialist health services for women will be a lasting legacy of our work and I pay tribute to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, for the significant progress he has made with regard to women's health over the past number of years. Next year we will see that again with the availability of free hormone replacement therapy, which will make this often vital treatment available to women irrespective of income. There are also the extra resources for IVF and other services. Perhaps more than anything else, led by the Minister, we have enacted a sustained series of initiatives to reduce the cost of accessing healthcare. Up to 60% of the population is now eligible for GP care. Inpatient charges have been abolished. The cost of drugs and many other charges have been reduced. This progress will continue next year. Many of the new posts and services will develop to their full potential and other new posts and services will be created. The absence of anything even close to a health policy from the Opposition is seen by the attempt to claim that a record health budget, with record numbers of health professionals and record numbers of patients being treated is something to be attacked. Our programme of investment, development and reform in health will continue.

For me and my party, education has always been a passion and a priority. This has continued during this Government. Today there are more than 7,000 extra teachers in our schools than on the day Deputy Foley became Minister for Education. Some 1,300 major school building projects have been funded while 1,300 new special classes and seven new special schools have been opened. An additional 1,600 special needs assistants will be provided next year. A programme of curricular reform has been rolled out. Because we have implemented an expansion in teaching posts, there has been pressure in filling all posts. This will be overcome as extra teachers qualify. What is most important about all of this is that it is having a direct and meaningful impact in improving educational outcomes for Irish pupils. Early school leaving is at its lowest ever level and among the best in Europe. Scores in reading, maths and science are now well above international averages. As the European Commission has pointed out, the gap in attainment between socioeconomic groups is closing. This progress did not happen by chance. It happened because of important choices we have made to invest in and reform education. Next year will be no different. Funding for all schools will increase. A further significant expansion in support for children with special needs will be implemented. Free school text books will be provided for all classes. We will also implement our plans to make schools safer spaces, focused on learning and development, with funding to pay for measures to ban access to smartphones during school time. Throughout my public life, expanding access and quality in higher education has been a deep commitment. The fact that investments we made in research two decades ago today underpin industries employing thousands show that this commitment could make a difference. This Government has continued to expand higher education and we are conscious that funding cannot just go to new initiatives. It is paramount that the core funding of higher education is increased. This is happening in this budget with €150 million, which we have agreed on an annual basis through the National Training Fund surplus. That is a major step forward and a significant investment in the future of this country, despite what has been said.

Ensuring that Ireland has a strong and effective voice in European and international affairs is a core value for my party and for all members of this coalition Government. It is a foundation for our shared programme for Government. We stand with the values of democracy, human rights and co-operation. It is a great pity that many in the Opposition refuse to acknowledge how Ireland has promoted both its interests and values through its foreign policy. In this budget, we are providing for a further expansion of our diplomatic network and the promotion of our priorities. Next year will see the highest ever level of overseas development aid, focused as always in helping some of the poorest communities in the world. We will also expand funding for climate finance initiatives, helping to reinforce our international standing as a leader in this field. One of the first major initiatives I launched when this Government began was the first ever major programme of funding for North-South initiatives. The shared island initiative has been a resounding success. It is funding research essential to building understanding and reconciliation, detailing the economic, social, environmental and health realities in both jurisdictions.

It is funding major infrastructure, piloting new services and, most of all, delivering the sustained and deepening dialogue which was missing for so long. The shared island initiative will be funded to push forward its work in the year ahead, delivering action where for so long all we had was speeches.

The men and women who serve our country as members of Óglaigh na hÉireann deserve our thanks and respect, particularly at times like this when they are representing our country and the United Nations with such distinction and bravery and in exceptionally difficult circumstances in south Lebanon. They defended our democracy in the face of an illegitimate campaign of violence and we must never lose sight of the vital role they play in protecting us and our values. In the nearly two years since I took responsibility for the Department of Defence, I have worked to begin a new era of investment and support for Óglaigh na hÉireann. The historical deficit in many areas has been undeniable and we needed to chart a new way forward. We still have much to do, but in a short period a wide range of issues have been tackled. The budget for next year reflects this, with a 9% increase supporting a wide range of improvements for individual members of the Defence Forces and investments in capabilities. It will amount to one quarter more than the allocation in 2022. Next year we will complete the purchase of a long-needed air transport capability and we will move forward in addressing obvious weaknesses through progressing both radar and subsea systems. Vitally, the budget provides fully for major improvements aimed at increasing recruitment and retention. We are only at the start of a programme of investment, reform and development in our Defence Forces and next year marks an important step forward.

A core objective of this Government, led on this matter with great determination and grit by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has been to leave a lasting legacy in tackling urgent environmental and climate challenges. Recent news that Ireland's carbon emissions have begun to fall shows progress is possible. This has involved actions across government requiring sustained action by all Ministers. Our approach has fundamentally been to seek to assist people in reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity. When new funding has been raised, we have directed the revenue towards helping communities and industries to transition while protecting employment. It is a terrible indictment of Sinn Féin's absolute disinterest in the environment that it wants to roll back initiatives which are finally delivering progress.

I profoundly reject the idea, which we too often hear in this House, that there is, or should be, a conflict between meeting essential environmental and climate objectives and having a strong farming and agrifood industry. Farmers and the agrifood industry represent our most important indigenous industry. They are world leaders in many areas and provide a social, economic and cultural foundation for rural Ireland. We can protect and grow their work while meeting environmental objectives and, what is more, we are seeing this become a reality because of work we have been progressing. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has worked tirelessly on behalf of farmers and the agrifood industry. This can be seen again in the budget allocation for next year, which improves direct supports while also introducing and expanding a wide range of schemes that will help the sector to innovate and to prosper.

The budget proposed by the Government is fair. It is ambitious, protects our economy and provides for our future. It is balanced and progressive. It will help families under pressure, expand essential public services and deliver the largest investment programme in our history. I commend it to the House.

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