Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

We need to get prices down sustainably over the next number of years. That is the key target. Some of the Opposition's proposals would have added 2% to the inflation rate, which would have exacerbated the problem for many families out there. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, is forecasting that among the euro area, Ireland will have the third lowest inflation rate between 2025 and 2026 at 1.7%. We did not want to do anything. For example, if one wanted universal energy credits, one would bump up inflation and consistently exacerbate the problem. We cannot keep on doing once-off packages forever. I am sure the Deputy would acknowledge that.

What we wanted to do was to improve services, particularly in disability, which has a 20% increase in the allocation. That is important. We have an awful lot more to do there in terms of respite places, residential places and so on. It is the same in special education where we need more resources for more teachers, more special needs assistants and more classes for next September onwards. These are very important investments and allocations of resources. What the Deputy said about the hospitality this year is about €250 million. That would not index anything, and the Deputy knows that. Indexation would be well over a billion-----

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