Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well with the budget. I have seen many budgets come through this House. This is a very fair budget. The Minister of State will be well aware that even in the boom years no matter how much money was available it was not enough. That is the reality. I have seen budgets coming through this House and the budgetary spending provided was never enough for people. In this budget with its package of measures covering personal taxation, the minimum wage, health services, infrastructure, climate action, social welfare and small businesses, there is something in it everybody. It is a very balanced budget and very fair to many people. It will help many people, particularly the less well off.

Those in the small business sector have gone through a very difficult time during the past year and a half. The incentives for those in that sector are to be welcomed. After all, they are the risk-takers in this country and risk-takers should rewarded. Whether you are starting up or in a small business, you need certain supports. Those in this sector go through very difficult periods. It is not plain sailing to be in business. Those in the sector are always worried about whether the business will survive, there are difficulties in employing staff and they have to plan ahead. Those are all difficult decisions that must be made by the business person. I am delighted there are some small rewards in the budget to help small businesses because they are the backbone of this country.

I am delighted the deficit, which is forecasted to be €13.2 billion, or 3% of GDP, this year, will be reduced next year to €8.3 billion, or 1.8% of GDP. I am delighted the Government recognised this must be provided by way of tax measures. We cannot have a runaway train. We cannot have money for everything and that is why decisions have to be made. Some people in these Houses would provide money for everything and not factor in that the finances must be structured and certain proposals must be put in place.

The help-to-buy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme will be extended to 2022. That will be welcomed by people who are trying to buy a house, particularly first-time buyers. Those employing people will also welcome that the wage subsidy scheme will be extended into 2022.

The tax on vacant sites is a big issue whether it be on vacant or greenfield sites. The Minister of State will know in some towns, particularly provincial towns, there are quite a number of listed buildings. There are quite a number in Dublin's inner city. Substantial funds would be needed to restore those buildings. It is not viable for any developer to do that. If local authorities acquire those buildings, the taxpayer would be saddled with the task of funding the cost of restoring those buildings, be it for accommodation or commercial purposes. I suggest a special low interest rate should be provided for works to listed buildings. They are in every town throughout the country and quite a number of them are in the capital and they are all derelict. It is not viable for any developer or builder to progress work on them, develop them or whatever. Do we want the taxpayer to be saddled with the cost of putting them back into use, be it for commercial or residential purposes? A very low interest rate should be provided for such works. The Government can borrow funding at very low interest rates. If a very low interest rate was offered it would be possible to incentivise the owners or developers to proceed with such works. I welcome the budget. Did the Acting Chairman ring the bell?