Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Are some of them being unrealistic? While I am not sure what the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, actually wants to do, he has a programme or an action plan. I presume the Minister has costed the action plan and indicated that he will provide funding to deal with the issues that are to be delivered on in 2017. In the case of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, many members believe the previous two Governments imposed savage cutbacks on the most vulnerable Irish citizens. While some may have claimed to have protected social welfare rates, with the introduction of new charges and so on, people have suffered in real terms. This year, they are hoping that, at long last, the Government will be able to give a real bonus to those in receipt of social welfare benefits and assistance payments. Does the Minister categorise other Ministers or is he working with them in a progressive way across the board? Who is being unrealistic?