Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not often find myself agreeing with Deputy O'Dowd but I certainly agree with him on much of what he said there. There is lots more to do. This Finance Bill gives effect to the budget. I think it is a budget of missed opportunities. It was introduced earlier this month. It is a budget and Finance Bill without a sense of national purpose. I have heard that said a lot since. I will outline the reasons why I think it is. It was described by the European Anti-Poverty Network as a giveaway budget that fails to address root causes of poverty. It stated there is, "A focus on short-term fixes and giveaways, with an eye to the impending General Election". The flawed decisions that will take resources away from those who need them the most will be judged by the people when they go to the polls. They will judge the Finance Bill on the housing that they cannot afford and, in the case of my constituents in Mayo, the crumbling blocks falling around them and their families, with inadequate redress; the medical services that take years to access; and the community services which are simply stretched too thinly in the areas that need them the most.

The truth is that this budget will ensure that the financial position of the wealthiest in this State is protected while ordinary workers and those who live at risk of poverty day-in, day-out, feel the squeeze. Despite the billions that have been spent and the booming economy, many do not feel like they live in a rich country.

According to Social Justice Ireland, a couple with one earner on €100,000 a year is better off by €73.35 per week due to the last five budgets whereas a couple with one earner on €30,000 is only better off by €3.35 per week after five budgets. That is the legacy of this Government. This Bill will give little solace to those waiting for a home, like hundreds of people across Mayo. If someone has a disability and is waiting for therapies or supports, if he or she is a section 39 worker forced to go on strike because the Government has reneged on its commitment to pay parity or if he or she has a mental health need and is waiting to speak to a clinician, this Government will give him or her little solace. People who are in chronic need are still left waiting.

The budget announcement of €1.25 billion in funding for the Land Development Agency, LDA, was the third time this funding was announced. It was announced last October and last December and it was announced in the budget as additional funding but it is not additional funding. It is the funding for the LDA to deliver on the existing targets, within the existing Government plan but with nothing additional and we know that those targets are too low. In fact, as my colleague Deputy Ó Broin has said numerous times, there is still a €3 billion black hole in the LDA's finances, creating uncertainty as to whether it will deliver on its programme out to 2028. That is even before we get to the bank levy. The Oireachtas finance committee has heard about the absolutely atrocious way that farmers in County Tipperary and people all over this country have been treated by the banks. Now we see them making billions of euro and the Government does not even increase the levy. That shows where its priorities lie.

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