Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Therefore, there would be a difference in that respect.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to maintain the pension rates and a number of rates above the rate of inflation, which is projected to be 1.8% next year. What is the cost of that commitment and does the Minister intend to deliver on it? The final issue I wish to raise is that of demographics, which I have been raising prior to the establishment of this committee. I thank the Minister and his Department for a response to a parliamentary question with information on this. Can the Minister drill further into those figures for the committee? For example, the Minister indicated that €57 million has to be provided for demographics and other current expenditure measures in the Department of Education and Skills. Can he advise what those measures are? The Department of Education and Skills has obviously told the Minister's Department that it had to employ a certain number of teachers and build so many classrooms. Can that information be provided to this committee?