Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The last time I asked for a debate on equality or inequality in the Chamber, Miriam Lord wrote in The Irish Times the next day that there was some hope of ever having that. However, I have faith and I would ask the Leader that we have a debate on the issue of inequality in our society. I want to give two examples that popped up over the weekend. The first was the data on private fee-paying schools. We see that they still have a very strong grip on the most sought-after third level courses. Half of the 25 schools which sent the highest proportion of their students to third level this year were fee-paying schools. I would ask the Leader to reflect on the fact that while we invest €60 million on DEIS schools, taxpayers lavish €90 million on private fee-paying schools to pay for salaries. To put that in perspective, even the British Tory Party - perhaps the most right-wing bunch of nutters we have come across in recent years - does not ask for private fee-paying schools to be subsidised by the taxpayer. Apparently, this Government continues to do so.

I also want to highlight the special assignee relief programme, because we saw the figures released there, including a €28 million subsidy to some of the richest people in the State, millionaires who get 30% tax relief on income over €75,000. The cap is at €1 million. We had 1,100 people benefit to the tune of €28 million in 2017. Interestingly, some of them can get double bubble because they can also claim €5,000 a year tax relief allowance for private schools fees for their children.

We see these subsidies lavished on the very wealthiest sections of our society while at the same time we see that this Government has frozen the minimum wage.