I’m pleased to say that these groups are going to benefit from Budget 2018 in a really tangible way with the introduction of a VAT Compensation Scheme for Charities.

There is an initial Budget allocation of €5 million for this Scheme which will take effect from 1st January 2018.

Under the Scheme, charities will be entitled to a refund of a proportion of their VAT costs on inputs, including eligible purchases, based on their non-State funding. It will be payable one year in arrears.

This will ensure that charities and voluntary groups can use more of the funds that they raise from the public or are granted from the state, raise directly on their core work, helping the people and communities who need it most.

A study carried out by Charities Institute Ireland found that a sample of 140 charities paid over €71 million in VAT in 2015. This shows the scale of the resources that will be freed up under the Scheme.

The charity sector has been calling for a VAT Compensation Scheme for some time now, and I commend all those who have highlighted the importance of this over the past years.

With the tax reforms and modest but sustainable spending increases in Budget 2018, Fine Gael is delivering for families and communities all across the country. We want to give a little back to those who have had to make sacrifices during what were very tough times for our country.

The gains we have made since the difficult recession are hard won and they are fragile, especially in the context of Brexit. However we are now in a position to protect our economic recovery and use some of the resources it provides to give everyone here in Carlow a fair chance, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Helping charities and community/voluntary groups is very much central to that.

If you would like to meet me or would like me to call to see you please ring my office on
059 9173446.

I also welcome the fuel allowance of €22.50 per week being extended to 27 weeks per year from 26 weeks per year - again, this helps assist older people in our communities.

Speaking from my own experience within Carlow and speaking to old age pensioners in the community, the cut of the telephone allowance had a massive effect on many of them, especially those living alone, in terms of their finance.

They depended on this allowance as well as the fuel allowance to ensure they could pay other vital expenses. I was happy to meet with the Minister recently and pushed for a telephone allowance for those who are most vulnerable.

I am delighted to see that the Minister has made this announcement.

I have always believed that as the Government built on restoring the economy, which it has done so successfully to date, that we should be giving back to the general public, who helped in the efforts to turn our economy around.

I believe those in most need, such as older people, should be looked after as well as part of a fair and just society and I believe the introduction of this allowance is part of the mantra and I hope that it will be welcomed across the State.

To be clear though, I see this new allowance as a first step towards fairness, and would hope the next Budget extends this allowance to other vulnerable people in society.

As the local Fine Gael representative, I am particularly committed to ensuring that people and families feel safe in their homes and communities all across Carlow.

The funding increase allows for the recruitment of 800 extra Gardaí next year which is very welcome.

Fine Gael reopened the Garda training college in Templemore after Fianna Fáil closed it down, and we have a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021. Today’s Budget shows that we remain committed to increasing Garda numbers and the ongoing reform and modernisation of the police force.

Also positive is today’s announcement that we will hire an additional 500 civilian staff in 2018. This frees up the Gardaí from administrative and technical tasks, increasing the numbers out on the beat here in Carlow and tackling crime where it occurs.

Fine Gael has overseen the development of a modern force equipped for 21st century policing. As Minister Flanagan stated yesterday, the funding will be used to meet challenges including counter-terrorism, organised crime, and white collar crime. I am pleased to hear there is also provision to maintain targeted operations, such as Operation Thor.

I applaud the Gardaí for the continued successes of Operation Thor, the initiative designed to protect our streets, communities and homes. Operation Thor has seen burglary statistics continue on a significant downward trend.

We have invested heavily in the Garda fleet, with over 720 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015. €6 million has been allocated to provide for Garda vehicles which will provide for up to 240 new vehicles across the country next year.

I was also pleased to hear that the increased spending on Gardaí and police staffing will go hand in hand with a commitment to drive reform throughout the organisation.

Minister Flanagan announced an additional €600,000 for the Policing Authority to provide for additional staffing, accommodation and other costs associated with its important work; and an additional €300,000 to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to strengthen staffing resources including a new unit established in relation to Protected Disclosures.

Fine Gael will continue to prioritise the fight on crime and I will work to ensure we do everything we can to protect people and families in Carlow.

To further increase supply the Minister announced the establishment of Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI). He has allocated €750 million of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund available for commercial investment in housing finance.

HBFI will increase the availability of debt funding on market terms to commercially viable residential development projects whose land owners want to build homes, by making finance available at a lower rate.

To get up and running quickly, HBFI will draw on the extensive skill and expertise in residential development funding that currently resides in NAMA.

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and NAMA are already supporting the commercial delivery of 30,000 houses and apartments over the period to 2021 and these additional funds have the potential to fund the construction of an additional 6,000 homes.

The real way to tackle homelessness and to make housing more affordable for everyone is to increase housing supply. This budget will see an increase in funding for Homeless Services a further €18 million to over €116 million to ensure that emergency accommodation and other supports are available to those who need them.

An increase of €31 million has been allocated to the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme bringing the total to €115 million. This will deliver an extra 4,000 social housing homes next year.

The Housing Assistance Payment Scheme will be increased by €149 million in 2018, enabling an additional 17,000 households to be supported and accommodated in 2018 while we steadily increase our housing supply.

Changes to the vacant site levy will mean developers need to get on with the task of developing lands urgently or risk seeing the levy they pay on their undeveloped sites increase dramatically.

The message from Government to vacant site owners is clear – to have the levy lifted, they need to get on with developing your lands urgently.

Fine Gael is determined that everyone has an opportunity to a home of their own, that’s why we’re committed to creating a functioning housing market, unlike the boom and bust that we have witnessed in the past.

We are committed and determined to a long term, sustainable housing model that provides security for tenants.

The Government is investing over €1.7bn for special education needs in the coming year. This means that over 1,000 additional Special Needs Assistants can be recruited in time for September 2018, bringing the total number of SNAs to over 15,000.

This will ensure extra support for children who need it most here in Carlow, ensuring they have a fair chance and the best opportunities.

In 2018 we will also see 230 new teachers in special classes and special schools and 100 new Special Education teachers.

A further €5.5 million will be allocated to provide support for a range of new policy measures including the foreign languages strategy, STEM education policy, digital learning strategy and the Government’s Creative Ireland initiative.

Ensuring the wellbeing of students is a key priority of government. The equivalent of 100 additional guidance posts will be provided in September 2018. Some 10 new NEPS psychologists will also be hired in 2018.

Families with older children will also welcome the funding announced for the third level sector.

My colleague, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, also announced an additional €310 million has been allocated out to 2021 to address the infrastructure needs of the higher and further education sectors.

The new investment will also support the development of Technological Universities across the country. It is the Department of Education’s intention to have this Bill passed by Christmas.

I am delighted that we are responding to the increasing demographics and are providing an additional 2100 student places in higher education. The opportunity now exists for more students to avail of further education.”

Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, said: “This marks my second budget as Minister for Education and Skills. In that time I am pleased to be able to have had increased our investment in education and training by over €1 billion.

We are now spending more on education than ever before. This shows the strong priority that the government has put on education, which is key to helping everyone to fulfil their potential. Nothing is more effective at breaking down cycles of disadvantage and achieving the republic of opportunity which we wish to create.

Down by 2,914 (43%) since Feb 2012.
& 795 (17%) since Sept 2016.