Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the budget. I will focus on the budget for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. There is funding for energy credits but because of the Government's failure to respond to the need to reform the public service obligation, the network charge and the standing charge, those energy credits are wiped out immediately. Between the public service obligation regressive measure and the network and standing charges, it is essentially a subsidy for large energy users such as data centres and others. The Government stands in the face of proposals from Sinn Féin to reform that.

On the grid fund of €750 million, we heard from the Minister at his press conference yesterday that there is not a euro for that in 2025. It is money that was to be spent anyway to invest in the grid for the phase 1 projects. That was always intended so this is another degree of spin from the Government. It was money that was to be invested in the future but we are also increasing the network charges to pay for the same thing. In fact what we have is a double taxation on people.

There is not a euro for the climate, nature and infrastructure fund in 2025. Sinn Féin, on the other hand, proposed investing €50 million this year, to bring the total up to €750 million. Importantly, as is so often the case in this budget, with huge funding available the Government is intent on pursuing failed policies. This is the case in relation to climate action and the response to climate change. There were criticisms from Friends of the Earth, the Climate Change Advisory Council and Social Justice Ireland. It is writ large in relation to the use of the carbon tax. I put it to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, with regard to the carbon tax increases that came in last night, that we are told time and again by the Government that these funds are to be ring-fenced for retrofitting, social protection and agriculture but the Comptroller and Auditor General has told us that 40% of that funding is unaccounted for and has not gone to where it was targeted. The spin from the Government on carbon taxes is absolutely writ large by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Sinn Féin, on the other hand, has showed a progressive and fairer alternative. The Minister should take that on board.

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