Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. I acknowledge and commend his role and that of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, in the publication and preparation of the budget, in addition to all the officials in the Department and their Government colleagues for their input. This is clearly a budget that accounts for our growing population, an ageing population and the once-off cost-of-living measures that are vital to provide for families and single people throughout our State.

One area I will mention is that while there is a huge increase in the budget, there was no mention of debt in today's discussions. Debt is real and we cannot ignore it. While it is manageable in a growing economy, that is still an important point to note.

The budget will see an overall spend of some €22.5 billion in the Department of Health, €25.2 billion in the Department of Social Protection, and €10.47 billion in the Department of Education. Those are the three big-spending Departments. I welcome the recognition of and necessity for once-off payments for families.The energy payments, which are vital, are payable to all households. That is important because in many cases households are concerned that they do not receive benefits and this is a universal payment for all households. The postponing of the increase in the duties until next March-April is important as well because that was a concern of people facing increased costs coming into the winter period. I certainly welcome that.

I welcome the €300 cost-of-living lump sum to all households getting the fuel allowance, the €200 cost-of-living lump sum for pensioners and people with a disability who are getting the living alone allowance, the €400 cost-of-living lump sum to all families getting the working family payment, the double payment of child benefit, the €400 cost-of-living lump sum payment for people getting the carer's support, the Christmas bonus, which will be paid to 1.3 million recipients including pensioners, carers and people with disabilities, as well as the January cost-of-living bonus, which will be paid to most people who get a weekly social welfare rate. That is very important. I welcome the €12 increase in the payment to pensioners as well, as I said, as the €300 cost-of-living payment for the fuel allowance.

The extension of the child benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is welcome as well because when we have transition year now in so many schools, it means there is an extra year in full-time education for the majority of students depending on when one starts. That is a welcome recognition of the changes in terms of the education system.

I welcome the extension of the school meals on a phased basis in 2024, to all non-DEIS primary schools that applied as part of the expression of interest. That is certainly welcome as well as part of initiatives to support and address child poverty.

Another area I would like to acknowledge, as others have said, is the Minister of State's own role in securing additional funding for the continued expansion of the National Cyber Security Centre. We see that as having an increasingly important role with the increase, obviously, in technology and online running of our society and our world.

I welcome the reduction in childcare costs. In the past week, I met a SIPTU-organised group of people involved in the childcare sector. While there have been a number of areas of concern in relation to childcare, costs being the first, accessibility being the second, the pay of childcare staff on which there were measures last year as well being the third, and the small providers being the fourth, there is concern that the childcare workers are undervalued in society. If one compares them to other groups, they do a very important job and their level of recompense is less, for example, than SNAs and others, who do equally important work in society. They are not being recognised to the same extent. I hope, in future budgets. that this can be addressed in conjunction with the providers.