Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need to know what they are. That is all I am saying to Mr. Kinnane. In layman's terms the ELS has basically been standing still. If we want to offer the same service next year as we offered last year it will cost us an extra €700 million to do that. The reason for that is due to pay increases, pay agreements, and the revision of contracts associated with external help to deliver the contract, whereas it may not have been the case previously.

All I am saying is a budget is difficult enough for members to understand and they have a duty and responsibility to relay to their constituencies the issues associated with each Department and its ability to deliver. If, for example, there is an unwritten rule that the least we will do is continue with the service we had this year, and if there is a cost associated with that which impairs us from providing further services beyond that, then we need to know why that is adjudged to be the case.

It is all ELS now whereas two years ago the Department could tell us under three different headings. Now it can only tell us under one. That is a reduction in the service afforded to us. It is something we have to highlight and demand of those with responsibility into the future.