Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Another group of people who are very disappointed today, I imagine, are lone parents who have suffered savage cuts under this Government, in particular the cuts introduced by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, last year. She reduced the age of eligibility to seven years. It is a shame that something was not done in that area. Since we are discussing child care, it is a shame there has been no announcement around the Scandinavian child care system we were promised when those cuts were brought in.

Obviously, there are positive things in the budget but I am very disappointed. I spoke in a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, earlier on Raidió na Gaeltachta. I remarked on the complete and utter disdain this Government has shown for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht areas once more in the cuts the Government has brought in to Gaeltacht areas, including a 20% cut for Foras na Gaeilge and a practical cut for Údarás na Gaeltachta at a time when we are trying to maintain jobs in Gaeltacht areas. Why are the increases being given to Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland not being given to Údarás na Gaeltachta to create jobs in Gaeltacht areas? Are we second-class citizens?

Rural areas cannot see much benefit from the budget today. It was unfortunate that an increase in the farm assist programme was not brought in and that more spaces were not made available on the rural social scheme.

Education is another area where people are going to be very disappointed. One of the headlines I saw today was to the effect that it is not a budget for those under 25 years of age. The Government has not addressed the situation of the astronomical fees that students going to third level are being asked to pay. This was a great opportunity to put to right that wrong and to bring down the astronomical costs that are driving people out of the education system, especially those from socioeconomic groups that do not have much cash.

Several other cuts could have been reversed. The Government could have re-examined the cuts to the bereavement grant, the telephone support or the back-to-school allowance. Those areas should have been redressed in this budget.

It is farcical to hear Senators from the Government side calling this a progressive budget. It is progressive for those who are on higher incomes. Approximately 50% of those in the workforce are on wages of €28,500 or less.