Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, and thank him for his participation in this discussion. I also commend him on his stewardship of the cost of insurance working group, which is doing much important and necessary work. This is the starting point for me. The prudent management of our nation's finances is what today is about. I ask Senators to cast their minds back to where we were a decade ago. We should never look away from or forget that image. Today, our economy has almost full employment and we have a balanced budget. This may not mean much to people, but when the next cyclical downturn comes, as it must, we will be able to borrow money to provide for services and pay public servants, which we could not do the last time.

I listened to Senator Dolan's contribution. I am impressed that this budget will protect the most vulnerable and those who most need Government intervention. It will promote an improvement in living standards for all of our people. The budget will deliver an investment in capital but also in people. We have issues with housing whereby fellow citizens, husbands, wives, partners, girlfriends and children are in temporary accommodation. People also want a better pupil-teacher ratio and seek to gain access to the health service in a more timely manner. The budget is about putting people at the heart of what government is about. Senator Dolan spoke about disability. This is a good budget for the disabled community because it will help to improve their lives.

A decade ago, the then Fianna Fáil-led Government cut social welfare. This Government has not only reversed those cuts but it has also increased spending on social protection. An additional €3.50 per person is spent on social welfare now than was spent in 2007 and 2008. This will improve people's lives and living standards.

As a teacher and an adult education director in my previous existence, I am impressed that this budget invests in education. It will give people a gateway and pathway to a better type of life. I welcome the budgetary changes in education, whether at primary level through an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio and increased capitation grants or at third level. Last year, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, had the best and biggest education budget in the history of the State. Today, he has been given a further increase.

The allocation for health has reached €17 billion. We now need to see delivery. The Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 will come before the House this week.