Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with Senator Sean Barrett that he has made a very fine contribution to the portfolio.

We do not have a bottomless pit but because of the way we do our budgets every year, we give the wrong impression to the public that we do. It is unforgivable that we continue in this vein. I have said it before in this House. Last year I published a budget reform Bill which would have required the Government to produce a mid-year balance sheet, showing our assets, our liabilities and our contingent liabilities. This would have given us an open and honest baseline to start the debate and from which to work. That is still not available. We are relying on the Government's figures to know whether we can reduce taxes by €750 million or reduce spending by that amount. This is the Government's estimation. Meanwhile, we have the ESRI saying we should have a neutral budget because it does not want to risk the recovery. Neither do I. I am glad the recovery has started. I welcome it every step of the way and I have voted for it in this House, regardless of which side of the Chamber I was on.Contrary to what the Taoiseach has said, the recovery is not behind every door. I know he would like it to be there, but I know what I am finding behind every door, or many doors. I am finding unresolved debt that no welcome cut in the universal social charge will correct. I am finding missing people through emigration and, unfortunately, through suicide. These are very real issues in the environment we are in.

To be fair, the fiscal council brings a sober voice to budgetary matters. I think that is very welcome. It has said that where the Government is going is the outer limit. I ask again what we can spend the available money on. We should only spend on priorities. When I hear the Government saying every child over the age of five should have an iPad - it was all over the newspapers last Saturday and Sunday - I know it has lost it a little bit. I will explain why I believe that. First, it is not educationally sound for every five year old to have an iPad. I accept that in the hands of the right people - teachers and parents who are trained - it can be a tool for learning, but it is not for every child. I have seen how children work iPads. I have an open mind about the use of iPads by children in senior primary school classes and in secondary school. Of course I support assistive technology for children with learning difficulties, and I know the Minister of State is with me on this one. When he sums up at the end of this debate, can he tell me how much it would cost to give an iPad to every child in this country aged five and over? This is a serious question. The cost of this measure needs to be balanced against the fact that 2,200 people in this country, 1,200 of whom are children, are in emergency accommodation. Do they need an iPad, or do they need a house, a bed and food? I remind the House that the Capuchin monks are feeding 800 people a day. There is no argument. Anyone who watched "The Week in Politics" last Sunday night will be aware that 8,000 social workers are needed for over 40,000 abuse and welfare cases. An iPad is not a priority in that context. Will the Government's budget proposals fill those 8,000 social work positions? I hope to see these priorities addressed. In July of this year, I could not get this House to debate the fact that 18 pregnant women were homeless. What are our priorities?

We have refugees coming in and I welcome them. I welcome the Syrian refugees. They are refugees. They are looking for refuge. I understand that approximately 7,000 families are willing to offer a bed to them. This is a wonderful integration method that should not cost money. I completely disagree with the proposal to pile them all into centres, especially in light of the mess that has been made with direct provision by this Government and its predecessor. It is ridiculous that their applications are not processed after seven to ten years. We should not waste money that way again. I accept that the approach I am advocating would take a good bit of co-ordination. We know that the Syrian people, by and large, are educated and cultured and have a contribution to make. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, has said they will be processed very quickly, but I doubt it. I will wait and see. If that happens, I will welcome it and take my hat off to it. If these refugees are processed within a year and are out and about, contributing to the community and the economy, I will welcome that.

I am not finished. I just-----