Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. This budget is quite comprehensive and it addresses not just the short-term challenges but indeed the long-term challenges and opportunities for Ireland. I will start by addressing specifically some of the areas within the Minister of State's own brief and where he has an interest. I welcome that under the circular economy an additional €3 million is provided for the roll-out of the circular economy strategy. The legislation the Government enacted last year under the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act does provide for greater emphasis on recycling and up-cycling. The additional moneys there are quite welcome. The Minister of State will be aware that under that legislation, there is provision for local authorities to be able to use CCTV to deal with illegal dumping. I am conscious of the ongoing delays with the negotiations between the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and the Data Protection Commission but when we roll out that strategy next year, I would like to see as part of the additional funding provided to local government in this regard that funding for a campaign to tackle illegal dumping will be prioritised.

The Minister of State is very strongly aware of the importance of the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC. There is a clear commitment within the budget today to expand the level of staffing at the NCSC. The importance of defence in this area cannot be underestimated. We are conscious today of the deliberate attack on pipelines into Finland. Ensuring that Ireland is cyber safe as well as having strong Defence Forces is critical.

I want to raise a number of other issues, in particular the very welcome increase in support for foster carers. This is the first time since 2009 there will be a double payment this winter and an increase, depending on the age of the child, of either €73 or €75 from next year. My understanding is the €25 increase will be in January and the balance later in the year. I urge the Minister of State to take it back and try to front-load this to bring in as much of the increase as early as possible in the next year. As we have a serious challenge in recruitment and retention in the foster care sector, it is important to move on that. I also welcome in the budget the provision with regard to foster children's inheritance and that their position for tax purposes will be changed.

There are a lot of real positives in education, including the extension of free school books to junior cycle. I hope over the lifetime of this Government we will deliver on free school books right across the school sector. With regard to the Minister of State's point around special education, it should not be underestimated that as a result of this budget we are seeing an additional 744 teachers in the special education needs, SEN, sector and 1,216 additional special needs assistants, SNAs. That will bring the total number of SNAs supporting our school system as they do vital work to 21,600. That is a very significant achievement by this Government and shows a very clear commitment to support special education.

On the question of the higher education package, I welcome the real difference that has been made this year on Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants. The non-adjacent maintenance grants will be increased by €615 per annum, which is a real difference for those students. Those who receive adjacent grants will get a 10% increase, as well as the thresholds being increased. We are aware that students are facing significant costs and that makes a real difference, as will the extension of the half-price travel for young people.

I have one concern around Funding the Future, which is the overall higher education package. The Government identified that the shortfall in higher education funding was €307 million. Last year €40 million was provided towards it and €60 million is provided for it this year. That still leaves a €207 million gap when compared to the €307 million shortfall. I hoped the money perhaps could have gone a bit further. I welcome that as part of the budget commitment here we will see universities being reimbursed the full cost of all public pay awards. That will go some way towards addressing some of those shortfalls.

I will comment on the two funds that are being created. The future Ireland fund and the infrastructure climate and nature fund will have long-term positive implications for this country. These are the sovereign wealth funds that are being established by the Government. Given how strong the economy is and the level of tax take, it could be very easy for us to just look at investing in short-term projects. These funds, however, are looking at Ireland's future, not just over this decade but into the decades to come. The measure will be seen into the future as one of the most significant budgetary decisions that has ever been made by a Government. I hope there will be some level of parliamentary scrutiny and oversight in the development of these funds. I suggest that we might look to Finland, where the Finnish Parliament has a statutory committee for the future that looks at these big challenges, whether they are the green revolution, the technological revolution, or the demographic challenges we face, and set out the opportunities that are to be provided. I will make a final point on local government. I welcome the very clear commitment in that regard. There is a commitment to investment in our fire services. I hope that will go some way towards addressing recruitment and retention challenges there. I welcome the fact there is a clear commitment within tonight's votes to additional investment in fire services and fire stations.