Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On Monday, the Taoiseach attended the launch of a plan to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Tallaght. I hope that he, and especially his Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will support that plan and provide the necessary funding.

I wish to address the Taoiseach regarding the Government's commitment to the needs of all children, with special focus on health care provision for them. Is he at all aware of the depth of anger in the wider community regarding the waste of public moneys on the provision of IT systems to the Department of Health and Children and the health sector that have failed and are simply not working? Can he confirm that there is another example of a failed computer system in the health service, this time in a midlands hospital? Does he appreciate the extent of people's anger at the massive waste of public moneys in the engagement of consultants by a whole raft of Departments, something recently exposed in answers to Dáil questions tabled by my colleague, Deputy Morgan? Do the Taoiseach and his colleagues appreciate the reason for that depth of anger? People know the scale of need in society, and that is what lies behind their anger. They recognise that those needs, especially those of children, are not being met. Yesterday Barnardos launched its proposals to tackle child poverty, and I commend its document to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and especially the Minister for Finance as essential reading in the lead-up to the preparation of his budget in December.

We understand that the failed PPARS system has now been suspended at a cost of €150 million so far. Is the Taoiseach aware that in reply to a Dáil question from this Deputy——

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