In all of the clamour about the negative aspects of the budgets we have forgotten some of the positive aspects. I welcome that the rate of rent supplement has not been altered. One in every five families is now living in private rented accommodation and the State funds 100,000 families through the rent supplement payment. This measure is very important and is most welcomed by many vulnerable people.

With regard to the property tax, we would not be in this position if the Opposition had grasped the nettle many moons ago when it came to financing local parties and spreading the burden.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

History matters, to be blunt.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party were opposed to it at the time.

I remind the Senator that history matters. His party abolished rates in 1977 but to be honest, we helped his party in 1973 when the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition removed a substantial level of rates in urban areas. None of us is without blame.

I was four years of age.

The facts of the matter remain that Fianna Fáil spent longer in government than us and they have had more opportunities to deal with this matter. I ask the Leader that in the new year when we have all had a chance to read and to reflect on the Thornhill report that he would arrange a debate on the future funding of local authorities. Members will be aware that the current provisions allow for individual local government areas to increase or decrease the charge by 50% over time in either direction. I ask for a genuine debate about the future of the funding of local authorities. Some of the Scandinavian countries are interesting because individuals vote for the areas of local authority expenditure. This is a debate we should have once we have passed along from the rhetoric of the budget.