Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House to discuss this very important topic. I commend the Minister of State and the Ministers, Deputy Paschal Donohoe and Deputy Michael McGrath, on a very welcome budget. It is offering support and it is putting money back in people's pockets, but it is also helping employers and helping employees to be kept in jobs, which are two core messages today.

I would first like to welcome the increase in the tax band as people will now earn over €40,000 before paying the higher rate of tax. When that is combined with the changes being made to the USC, it will be an extra €831 onto the average wage. That is a lot of money and is very welcome. With regard to the small benefits exemption that the employer can give the employee, that used to be €500 and it is now up to €1,000. That will help in regard to the retention of jobs in a situation where many employers are finding it very difficult to retain their employees. Tenants will benefit from the €500 non-refundable tax credit for renters. So many people are renting privately but they are not in receipt of any supports. This is very welcome, given rents have gone through the roof, as we are all aware. Many of the higher costs are as a result of unprecedented challenges, first with Covid and now with the Ukraine war. I welcome that the Government is supporting businesses that are exporting to other countries and that are having difficulty because of the war in getting their goods out.

The measure for young farmers is very important. I compliment both Macra na Feirme and the IFA, which did a wonderful job in lobbying and putting forward the message that we need to keep young farmers on our land. It is such a cultural thing here in Ireland that there needed to be a roll-over of stamp duty relief, as well as the measure on slurry relief. I compliment the two organisations because they brought so many people on board with them. This will certainly keep young farmers in position.

I welcome the living city initiative. I am from Limerick city and I live just off the Georgian area. For many years, nobody was living in many of those houses. People have moved back in but there is still a long way to go because there are a lot of restrictions around planning permissions and a lot of red tape that people have to overcome. These are all costly exercises, for example, putting in fire escapes costs a lot of money. I would like to have seen a greater focus on this area. While it is most welcome that it is being extended for a further five years to 2027, I believe extra supports have to be given to people to encourage them to bring the houses back into use. The cost of goods and labour needs to be taken into account. The Minister of State might be able to look at this for the finance Bill.

The zero VAT rate for defibrillators, medicines and hormone replacement therapy is very welcome. The zero VAT rate for newspapers will help to bring down the cost of newspapers. The physical paper that the newspaper is printed on has gone up along with everything else, which has hit the media. I believe this was the right thing to do.

I also draw attention to the film industry. I have been very involved with organisations in Limerick like Troy Studios and Odyssey Studios. The Minister, Deputy Harris, was in Limerick last week and he announced almost €5 million for the development of that industry in Limerick College of Further Education, which is run by the education and training board. Because we have a film industry on our doorstep, many people have participated in the courses. One thing I would like to have seen mentioned is regional uplift, which is about investing in the regions outside of Dublin. The way it is at the moment, and I mean no offence to anyone from Dublin, the film industry is being driven towards the studios in Dublin and Wicklow, which is not helping with regional uplift. I believe that regional uplift needs to be looked at in the finance Bill. There are so many American film groups looking at this but because that regional uplift is being phased out and there is no mention of it in the Bill, they are saying it is going to be too expensive to come here. That is something I would like the Minister of State to commit to looking at.

I do not have a vested interest in the hospitality industry, although my family background is in that area, so I suppose I should declare that. On the 9% VAT rate, small businesses in the hospitality industry are major employers and over 200,000 people are employed in that industry. I would like a commitment that the 9% VAT rate will be reviewed in February, when it is due to finish. I believe that if small businesses are still feeling the pain, we cannot let them feel unwanted, given so many jobs depend on it. I would like to hear the Minister of State give a commitment today that in February, when it is due to finish, it could be reviewed.

I know we will be talking about many issues in regard to the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath’s budget, and many families will benefit from that. Certainly, lower paid income earners are going to get substantial payments. The business supports package that is being put in place is very important. To have a 40% increase compared to this time last year, and up to a total of €10,000 a month, is quite a fair scheme. I have met with many small business owners in recent weeks who showed me that their bills have trebled in the last six or eight weeks. People are facing very high bills and it is important to show the right message and show that the Government is listening. We had a small business conference over the weekend and I met many business owners. People are very concerned. I believe this 40% increase up to a maximum of €10,000 is sending out the right message to those small businesses. It will help to keep small businesses afloat and it will also help to keep the people who are employed by those business owners in jobs.