Mr. Colm Desmond:

I do not have the figures for a budget that combines public and private resources. The figures I quoted in my opening statement are the public spending figures. In the years prior to 2013, I think there had been tight budgets in the years immediately up to that year, because the fiscal changes had begun to hit in 2010 and 2011.

I agree with the Deputy that it is a significant increase during a period of time, but it may well be that the cost of services are a factor and we would have to look at international comparative figures to see whether we were particularly out of sync in that regard.