Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is happening and resources are being invested all the time. An enormous budget is being provided. In the education area much of the budget relates to people. Apart from the capital programme the bulk of funding is spent on teachers and this is improving the situation.

The report indicates that 75% of what was promised in the programme for Government has been delivered. I accept there may be difficulties in completing every aspect of it. I never say there are problems that are insurmountable. The Government is always endeavouring to improve. As for things promised a few years ago, circumstances change and one must try to do more. That is the nature of the thing. I never said that everything is perfect. It is not a utopia and nobody is beyond reproach. All I ever ask is a fair examination of matters. As Deputy Sargent said, the Government provides a progress report but the people will ultimately decide. That is how it is in a democracy. That has always been the way. We have endeavoured to make improvements across the areas in the programme for Government. This country is doing extraordinarily well. There is a low level of unemployment and national debt and a high level of infrastructural spending. There have been considerable improvements in many areas.

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