Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What was mentioned today was a ratio of 28:1. I do not know what is the difference between the two figures but what we want is 16:1. That is what I commend because all the evidence, as several speakers have said, is that the early years of education are vital and valuable in the development of the next generation. Perhaps the Minister of State will check those figures.

On the issue of social housing, we have had developers at the banking inquiry admitting they priced themselves out of a market. A traditional house being available in Ireland for two and half times average earnings became 12 times average earnings but is now six times average earnings, which is still above the European and OECD average, as has been pointed out by the OECD. What can we do with the stock of housing? We have evidence from Daft.iethat houses in Longford cost less than a third of what they cost in the Dublin area. Some 90% of this building programme is in the Dublin area. Is there scope for getting the stock of empty houses, so-called ghost estates, made attractive? They will always costs less than in cities but there are other disadvantages. Perhaps one of the ways in which we can develop the midlands to attract industries there is that people would have much lower housing costs there. I see no need to keep the developers who wanted to live in Ballsbridge and buy Aristotle Onassis's yacht for wedding purposes and so on. What we need is people who can produce houses again for two and half times average incomes. That is where the emphasis should be. The overall emphasis in the budget is correct. There will also be parts of a budget where this House will make suggestions to Ministers. As the Leader pointed out when the abolition of this House was being debated, that is a function of the Seanad. A good dialogue was started by the two Ministers in the Dáil Chamber today. I welcome the Minister of State continuing that.