Results 21,401-21,420 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: This marks the next phase in the implementation of universal GP care. Funding is also being made available next year to provide therapeutic services for children, particularly for speech and language therapy. Over 2 million children are now covered by a medical or GP-visit card. This is 25% more than in 2010 and substantially improves people’s access to primary care services. In our...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We have also protected front-line staff numbers. This may come as a surprise to some Deputies in the House. Since the beginning of last year, hospital staffing has increased by 3,000. Since the beginning of last year we have hired 1,000 additional nurses.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As our recovery continues, we will continue to support and expand our health services. Housing One of the worst legacies of the economic crisis is our dysfunctional housing market. Years of underinvestment in social housing has led to an accommodation crisis, particularly in our main urban areas. Last year, the Government announced a €2.2 billion package to begin to deal with this...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am also increasing the current allocation for social housing by a further €69 million, to €414 million. This funding will enable local authorities to secure accommodation for a further 14,000 households. I am keen to make use of all available funding to address immediate housing needs. So, pending further developments on the special purpose vehicle that we announced, I am...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am also increasing the current allocation for emergency accommodation of homeless people, by an additional €17 million.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The increase will bring Exchequer support to €70 million, up 56% since 2014, and will help homeless families make the transition to long-term sustainable housing. Arts and heritage The year 2016 will be an historic year for our country. It is right that we mark the centenary of 1916 with commemorative events that everybody in the nation can be proud of.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Rising was the event that propelled our nation on the path to independent statehood.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We need to mark it with respect, be aware of its complexities and appreciate its idealism. We are the beneficiaries of that legacy. In recognition of this, €50 million has been provided for an extensive range of events and initiatives under the commemorative programme we launched. It will also allow for the development of the GPO interpretative centre, the national monument on Moore...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The allocation for the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will also provide an additional €3 million for a new scheme of once-off grants to arts and cultural centres throughout the country. I would like briefly to outline some other measures. Justice I am providing €2.2 billion to the Department of Justice and Equality for current expenditure. Last year, the...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Resources have also recently been made available for improved ICT and for the new policing authority. The Government is committed to supporting An Garda Síochána.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The human tragedies in Carrickmines and Omeath over the weekend are a stark reminder of the fragility of life. In the aftermath of such terrible events, the moral support of the community and the professional help of our An Garda Síochána, fire crews, medical staff and social workers, marks out definitively what we are as a society and as a people. In the same way as we need to...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is about creating jobs, so that people can look forward to a better life. It is about using the results of our hard-earned stability to improve our lives, better our communities and plan ahead with confidence. I said last year that the budget marked a turning point - the end of the era of austerity budgets. Conclusion At the election in 2011, this Government made two key promises. We...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We promised we would fix the public finances and restore growth to our economy.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is wry indeed to hear Fianna Fáil talk about broken promises.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Fianna Fáil and Mattie are the ones who took the lifeboat before the ship sunk.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We promised that we would fix the public finances and that we would restore growth to our economy. We have made good on those promises.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We promised too that we would never allow the State to fall into similar peril. The spending increases announced today are moderate, sensible and commensurate with our economic requirements. We continue to make good progress. Our debt is falling. Our deficit is narrowing. Unemployment is coming down. The previous Government’s budgetary failure helped to lead us to crisis.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Between 2000 and 2008, gross spending increased by 139%.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In the run-up to the 2007 election, between 2005 and 2007, public spending was ramped up by 25%, or more than €11 billion in nominal terms. That is election bribery for you, Deputy Martin.

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Budget Statement 2016 (13 Oct 2015)

Brendan Howlin: By comparison, next year public expenditure will be just 4% ahead of 2014.