Ms Jenny Connors:

Absolutely. There are a couple of things. First, we go through a very rigorous process in the run-up to the budget allocations. We were here in September talking about the provisions for the existing levels of service, ELS. We had about 3% in mind as an increase in the core expenditure base for ELS and it came in at 2.7%. You could look at public expenditure as three different elements. Public sector pay is a big element of how we deliver services, and that has obviously been dealt with in the context of the new extension of the Building Momentum pay deal. There are non-pay costs, which are obviously subject to inflation, and there is social welfare as the third and biggest component, and that has obviously been addressed as part of the budget package. We have been rigorous in our analysis and engagement with Departments in arriving at budgetary allocations for next year. Obviously, they are kept under review throughout the year, and I alluded to the fiscal monitor and the ongoing reporting that is in place. We are absolutely alive to those issues. On the capital side, we are looking at those through the different processes we have with the major projects advisory group and the Project Ireland delivery board. This requires ongoing management.