Mr. John McCarthy:

With regard to what is precommitted, there is €2.6 billion of additional spending. That €2.6 billion is broken down into €1.5 billion for the national development plan; €400 million for demographics, for example, to keep pupil-teacher ratios and existing levels of services constant; €400 million for the public sector pay agreement; and €300 million for carry-over effects for measures that were introduced this year that did not happen on 1 January. These measures happened during the year but there will be a full year effect next year. This is the €2.6 billion the Minister was referring to at the launch of the stability programme this week.