Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is easy to wring one's hands in the House or describe the problem as terrible in the media. I am aware from interactions with many Government agencies that most of the problems people are experiencing are the result of cutbacks in services. I agree with previous speakers that a serious debate is needed on housing. It is astounding that 90,000 people are on housing waiting lists. I do not lay the blame entirely at this Government's door as the housing crisis started a long time ago. A process of privatisation has been under way in the housing sector for some time and the sector has been subjected to serious cutbacks. Since 2008, for example, €1 billion has been cut from housing budgets. This is in addition to cuts in basic social welfare and rent supplement payments. The housing stock is also in rag order as local authorities do not have the funds needed to carry out repairs. Waiting times for housing are the longest in recent memory. As such, when Government Senators vote in favour of budgetary cuts they should bear in mind that this is what they are voting for. Let us not kid ourselves in that regard.

A survey by EUROSTAT, the European statistics agency, has found that only 67% of Irish households had a broadband connection in the second quarter of 2013 compared to a European Union average of 76%. In response, industry spokespersons noted that when one includes satellite broadband and 3G services, the figures are worse. Moreover, some 3G and satellite broadband services are barely fast enough to book a flight. We have a serious problem with broadband, which must be addressed if we are serious about creating jobs, especially in rural areas. The Government lags behind its European counterparts on this issue. A debate on broadband in the early new year would be welcome.