Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the general budget, my understanding is that an overall reduction of €610 million is required, but some of this will be accounted for by savings accruing from previous budget changes. The Minister has indicated that she will have to find savings of €440 million next year. Doing a quick calculation, this suggests €170 million will be saved as a result of previous measures. Is that a definitive figure?

In the context of the €440 million reduction required in 2014, the Minister has observed that some €3 billion has been taken from the social protection budget since 2009. That is a huge amount which is having a major impact on society and the economy. The question must arise as to whether it might be possible for the €440 figure to be negotiated down in advance of the budget. Surely we are getting to the point where we cannot take away much more in terms of supplementary payments and so on without the impact being too great for people to bear. Is the Minister working to get the figure of €440 million down?

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh wishes to ask a supplementary question.