Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I was not aware that Mr. Burke would take it as a compliment but I am gratified that he has.

Much, if not all, of what has been done is the result of political choices. Officials present the choices and other people make the decisions. It is not the case that they or their predecessors set out to create a system such as this independent of the fact that Ministers head up Departments. They are present to respond to questions regarding the implementation of this and give their views. I say that in response to comments made earlier.

I refer to the different examples in appendix A of the documentation and a theme other colleagues and I have been probing during these sessions, namely, the allocation of allowances per income cohort. I ask the officials to give us an understanding of where the recipients of the allowances are. I would like to double check one issue, which is the payment of degree allowances. When I look at this sheet in five years, the payments for the qualifications will be gone for new teachers who are being hired at the moment. Am I correct in that assumption?