If you cannot afford a more economical vehicle, you are being taxed on it. That is what the Government is saying.

Tax.

Tax.

Just another tax.

Fuel tax.

Inflation.

I agree with some parts of the Sinn Féin motion and disagree with other parts. We are talking here about housing and Government policy on producing housing for people. The number of vacant houses in Limerick in the ownership of the local authority is absolutely scandalous. Is the Minister of State aware of the time it takes to bring a vacant local authority house back into stock? It takes three months for the local authority to get the house ready but, on top of that, there is a wait of another two to three months …

The people who backed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael asked them when they were at the doors when they were canvassing at the last election not to join with the Green Party. They said they would destroy forestry, which the Green Party has done at first hand. They said they would destroy farming, which Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have done themselves. We now have a housing crisis. Why is this? We now have a Minister for Transport who cycles a bike. He has destroyed transport and created inflation in this country. What has t…

They have gone for the gutter.

I have been a builder all my life. I have been building from when I was a teenager to today when I am over 50. Since I have been elected to this House, I have been trying to give advice to the Government regarding the shortfall and why we cannot build houses. The Minister was in Limerick recently and we went around all the places where he was announcing houses. Every one of the contractors we met told us the sewerage systems are at maximum capacity and they cannot build more. I was in Offaly today where they are go…

I thank Deputy Harkin for bringing forward this motion. Qualifying for carer's allowance is not easy. People must be means tested, be over 18 years of age and provide care for a minimum of 35 hours per week. They cannot work outside the home for more than 18.5 hours per week. There are 500,000 carers in Ireland with some aged ten to 17 years old providing regular unpaid care for family members. It is estimated that family carers save the State €20 billion per annum but the Government makes it harder for them to qua…

Why were EU funds intended to support rural Ireland redirected to climate measures? In 2021, Ireland received €365.5 million from the EU to spend on supports for Ireland’s economy in mitigating the impact of Brexit. Ireland was the biggest beneficiary of Brexit funding as we were the country worst affected by Brexit. The funding Ireland received was to contribute to the improvement of living standards, support economic growth and mitigate the negative impacts on local communities. Through a Government source, I hav…

I thank the Taoiseach, but what is he going to tell the people in Askeaton, Oola, Hospital, Kilfinnane, Dromcolliher, Patrickswell, Ballingarry, Abbeyfeale and many more places around County Limerick given those promises were made 40 years ago to upgrade sewerage systems so that we could build houses and infrastructure? I accept that the Taoiseach said money is available now, but will he give it to Limerick so we can build houses? Recently, funding of €2 million was given to Limerick for specific projects. Just €25…

It has been 40 years.

You do not need planning for infrastructure.

A sum of €20.6 million was provided in budget 2023 to alleviate the financial burden of statutory hospital charges and I welcome that. Any reduction in charges for patients is welcome. However, I was disappointed today when I attended a presentation by the Endometriosis Association of Ireland in the audiovisual room in Leinster House. Six women spoke about their issues today. They told us that they were so disappointed that not one person from the Department of Health turned up to the presentation in the audiovisua…

The Government has been forced to bring in amendments in respect of the treatment of BIK, whereby a person driving 50,000 km in a company car with an emissions rating of 120 g per kilometre will now pay BIK at 12% rather than 15%, and the value of the vehicle will be reduced by €10,000. When people were buying electric cars, the Government said they would be exempt from BIK. Now we have companies that invest in electric vehicles and the people driving them are handing them back because of the current rates and aski…

How many people do we have to blame for this housing crisis? The buck stops across the Chamber with the Government. This Government, the previous Government and the Government before that have failed to provide infrastructure. Not too far from where the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, lives, 100 houses could be built in Croom. I have been waiting a year now for the water connection to be done. It was funded by the Government and still has not been delivered. A hundred houses could house people in Croom tomorro…

Did the Minister of State forget about his own county?

Without infrastructure.