You are not poor; you are just not using the right methodology.

There is an energy crisis in homes now, Taoiseach.

It is not normal.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges: — the additional costs disabled people face in their day to day lives; — an Indecon report, commissioned by Government back in 2021 confirmed the cost of disability, estimating it to be on average between €9,482 and €11,734 per annum; — this was not the first report showing a cost of disability; and — an Economic and Social Research Institute study from this year showing that households with a disabled member face significant financial burdens and are at very high risk of po…

I thank everyone who made a contribution to the debate. The Minister of State will agree the depth of feeling is very much evident in the Chamber. The cost-of-living crisis cuts deeper and lasts longer for people with disabilities and the Government knows this. The motion sets out an alternative to the Government's approach. The least we should expect from any decent Government is that it will not make things worse for disabled people and yet, under the budget, they will be worse off by up to €1,400. I urge the Min…

I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution in respect of the budget. The people who were really celebrating on Tuesday when the announcements were made were the landlords, the developers and the vulture funds. This was a budget for them. The Government might as well have just handed the biro to them and let them write the budget. Not unlike the previous speaker, who is a Fianna Fáil Deputy, I was of course disappointed with the budget because it favours those who are on high incomes, have big investments and …

My question is, as I generally try to make them, fairly straightforward. For the avoidance of any doubt, the question refers to delivery for the previous five years, specifically to the tenure of the Minister's predecessor. It was the same Government but a different Minister. Plans for the future do not need to be included in this. I just want the figure, which I suspect is quite a round figure, of cost-rental deliveries in the town of Balbriggan.

If the answer is "zero", will the Minister just say it? Is he embarrassed or ashamed? I would be if I was sitting where he is but I do not think the Government knows any shame. The answer is "zero". As we are here this morning, the average rent in north County Dublin is €2,223. The Minister might tell me who is going to be able to afford that rent because people on an ordinary income simply cannot. Even if they could scrape together all of that money, they would absolutely never be able to save for a deposit on a h…

I want an answer from the Minister.

I want an answer. I am entitled to an answer.

How does the Minister think it happened?

That does not answer my question. Can the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach direct the Minister to answer my question please?

I am entitled to-----

Could the Minister stop that nonsense? I have to face the people in my constituency who are facing homelessness.

These amateur dramatics on the Minister's part will not build a single house. He knows it.

The Minister should suigh síos. His time is up.

The Minister should check the clock.

Check the clock.

The Minister acknowledges that there is an affordability problem. Mother of Jesus. He acknowledges that there is a viability problem. Does he know what the problem is? We have a Government problem. The people in Balbriggan are at the business end of a Government-sponsored problem. The average cost of rent in north County Dublin is €2,223. I asked the Minister a simple question: how many cost-rental homes have been delivered in Balbriggan in the last five years? Not only did I ask the Minister the question, I gave h…

Yes, and supported the people who said they were building 40,000 homes.