PUBLIC spending by the government has increased by almost 50 per cent, to €114 billion, over the last five years, according to latest figures.
The figure came under questioning from Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue, who was of the view that throwing taxpayers’ money at every problem without addressing the underlying issues is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources.
He said that the “State cannot continue to meet every demand for additional spending with an open chequebook”.
“This approach, which resembles using taxpayers’ money to secure votes for this month’s election, is not in the national interest. It not only drives up the cost of living but also fails to achieve the desired outcomes, thereby not improving Ireland’s overall wellbeing,” Deputy O’Donoghue opined.
“How can we have spent so much money with so little to show for it? There aren’t enough houses, transport infrastructure lags other wealthy countries – especially in rural Ireland – hospitals are overcrowded, we have a shortage of GPs, and public services are more difficult to obtain than ever before. Constituents across County Limerick are frustrated by delays and inefficiencies.”
On housing, Deputy O’Donoghue himself a building contractor, the County Limerick TD said that he believes that the government should invest more in building homes, but in a way that ensures the best value for money and avoids inflating construction costs due to limited industry capacity.
“Long-term, expensive policies should not be made in a political panic,” he said.
“In a country facing significant housing and infrastructural challenges, the current government has failed to implement the radical changes necessary to reduce barriers to building homes and public infrastructure. This requires a fundamental shift in how we build, plan, and balance the rights of objectors with societal responsibilities.”
