Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. I congratulate him on today's budget and the hard work that has obviously been done in recent months. When I look at the budget in terms of priorities, I feel more money in people's pockets is very important at the end of the month. As the Minister of State said, there are many families out there who feel they are doing everything right but do not have enough to show for it at the end of the month or are struggling. We want public services that work and we need support for families and households when they need it. We want an equal society where everyone can prosper and a plan for tackling the undersupply of infrastructure we have lived with for years. The best description of the budget came from An Taoiseach when he said we have a strong economy that is prospering so people can do the same. That is where we are at this moment and it is a reflection of the financial and economic policies of the past 13 years.

What will I be saying to people when they ask me what is in the budget for them? I will be saying that for families there is another 24% increase in early learning and childcare, bringing our investment in childcare up to €1.37 billion. That has caught up with our target much faster than we set out to do under the programme for Government, but we need to do it. I hope there is a budget for providers in that, as well as parents. We have delivered on free school books for primary and secondary level. We are delivering on our commitment that all primary schools would have access to hot school meals and on the commitment to look at holiday hunger, which is very important. School transport fees are to be reduced, which has to go hand in hand with the review of the system, which is overwhelmed and not working for enough families. We are showing we will do that and put the money behind it.

There is more investment in children with additional needs and more SNAs, special education teachers and special classes. There is a commitment to providing dedicated support for children with additional needs moving from primary school to secondary school. There is a €20 increase in the domiciliary care allowance, a triple childcare benefit payment for families with newborn children and two double payments in child benefit before Christmas. There are also cuts to third level fees.

We regularly highlight carers in this Chamber. There is a significant investment for carers, which is right and just. The carer's support grant increased to €2,000 and there is a major increase in the carer's allowance means test limits to €625. I hope we will quickly move away from the means test altogether. There is a significant commitment to and investment in carers that shows we recognise the value of their work and contribution to society. There is a €12 increase in the weekly payment to carers, and carer's benefit is being extended to the self-employed. There is a €400 lump sum payment for those getting disability allowance and the blind pension. There is an extension to IVF funding and free HRT medication, which can cost €30 to €70 per month. We delivered on a commitment around inheritance tax as well.

I have not even gone near the tax cuts. When I am on the doorsteps, I know this will be good news after good news. However, we cannot forget our commitments around infrastructure and the need to address the infrastructure deficit. It is welcome to see €1 billion being ring-fenced for water infrastructure. That affects not just development of new communities and regional balance but also impacts communities with water leakages. We see that on too regular a basis.

People want help here and now but they also want reliability in the public services and supports their families and households need. This budget has delivered on that. I thank the three parties involved.