Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Social Justice Ireland, the ESRI, the Growing Up in Ireland report, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and One Family have all made statements on the budget and each have highlighted the fact child poverty has increased dramatically during the Minister's time in government. It has increased so dramatically there was a 30,000 increase in children experiencing deprivation just last year. Over the course of the next day there will be another ratification of the energy grants scheme, which is fine, but €15.5 million of that is going to go to people with second homes. Over the course of the last three years those one-off payments have amounted to nearly €100 million for people with second homes. Why should people with second homes get this grant when there are too many children growing up who do not have access to a second pair of shoes or a warm coat? Another Fine Gael Minister has tittered, but this is actually captured in the reports. This nasty party approach they have been taking in the last couple of weeks, I was going to say it did not suit them but it clearly does. Why are we giving energy payments to people with holiday homes when so many children do not have access to a second pair of shoes?

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