John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is very helpful.

I listened to the Sinn Féin contributions in the other House and read some press releases afterwards. One point referred to how the budget treats young people, in terms of how they are ignored and cast adrift. A clear example of the difference between the policy pursued by this Government and that which might be pursued if Sinn Féin was ever in government is illustrated in those statements. The best and surest way out of poverty is to create jobs. This Government has facilitated the creation of almost 100,000 jobs since it came into office. The young people about whom the Sinn Féin Members have spoken are often not in full-time education and in the most precarious of jobs, such as those with zero-hour contracts and minimum wage rates. One cursory glance through the figures today shows that somebody who is on the minimum wage of €17,000 a year - who is likely to be one of these young people - will be €708 better off each year. We are ambitious for our young people. As far as I can see, everything Sinn Féin has said about trying to get young people back to work and give them opportunities and education involves giving them more dole money.

Fianna Fáil has accused us of trying to buy the election. The figures show that we have increased public spending by 4%. Similar figures from Fianna Fáil, which tried to buy elections in the 2001 budget, for the 2002 election, and in the 2008 budget for the 2009 election, show that spending increased by an incredible 139%. Is it any wonder that it has no credibility at all when it comes to the economy? The party that used to cod us all by saying and repeating that it was the party of economic competence turned out to be the party of absolute incompetence. Fianna Fáil has to make these arguments because it is in opposition. The budget is progressive and the Opposition needs to criticise something. It is our job to sit back and listen to the Opposition scrambling for something to criticise.

Let us take a look at some of the figures that have been announced today with regard to the reduction in debt. In 2012 our debt repayments were €12 billion. This year the reduction has been in the order of €3 billion, and the figure will decrease to approximately €1 billion next year. Those in opposition said four, three and two years ago that this could not be done. They did not have the ambition for Ireland that we had.

The Government did not create this great recovery; rather, it was the people of Ireland. For Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to say otherwise is to insult the electorate. Surely in the run-up to an election, or at any time, it is imprudent to do that. Senator MacSharry referred to 20,000 houses, but failed to mention the €2.2 billion in capital investment. He also failed to mention the €69 million that brings the total this year to €414 million for local authorities to acquire 14,000 houses. He missed the €500 million for the social housing strategy and the €17 million for homelessness, bringing to €70 million the total spent on homelessness between this year and last year. These figures are conveniently ignored by the Opposition. It instead focuses on one element to the exclusion of everything else.

The full package of investment in social and other housing is in the region of €2.5 billion in the medium term. We have figures to show that by 2021 an additional 20,000 extra houses will have been built. By any standard, we have to say that this is a good thing. I am not sure we are claiming credit for it, because it is, after all, the money of the people of Ireland, but surely it is a good thing that we are delivering on these promises.

The reason for the continuation of the homeless crisis is twofold. One reason is that Fianna Fáil allowed the housing bubble to expand to such a degree that every builder was put out of business. The second is that-----