Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

He stood there and said that the Government of the time was picking the low-hanging fruit first after the banking collapse in 2008 when he came into government. He said it was picking the low-hanging fruit for austerity. Those low-hanging fruits were the drug and addiction services in communities, the family support and youth services and the intervention services that were needed in the poorest working-class and rural communities. Those cuts have never been fully restored. Fine Gael has been in power since then but those cuts have never been fully restored.

When the Department of inclusion does not look after those in addiction or children in poverty, and takes it out on young people by discriminating against those on the dole and on the minimum wage, what does the Government expect at the other end other than communities that are disengaged, disaffected and alienated, and an enormous amount of problems? It is almost as if the Government has contempt. It is refusing to address the exclusion and poverty that is rampant and growing. While this economy grows, the rate of poverty is also growing among children, older people and the most vulnerable.

I condemn this budget even though we still have to see the finer details and the colour of the Government's eye. How much is it going to put into supporting addiction and youth services, and families who are excluded from society? We have to see the colour of the Government's eye in that regard. I bet it will not be inspiring and the Government will continue to leave people excluded and living in poverty. That is the condemnation for this Government. Until it is gone and some other government comes in to address the imbalance, it will continue.

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