John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion regarding the pre-budget Estimates. Unlike the two previous speakers, I wish to address it in general rather than confine my comments to one Department. The 2007 gross pre-budget Estimates provide for expenditure of just over €54 billion, comprising €46.7 billion in current expenditure and €7.6 billion in capital expenditure. In real terms, that is an increase on the forecasted outturn for this year of €4 billion, or a little over 8%.

A good balance has been struck between making necessary provision for public services and ensuring that we maintain a prudent and sustainable budgetary position. The actions of the Minister for Finance must meet several criteria but should not be seen to be inflationary. The capital expenditure meets the growing demand for infrastructure which is being met through various projects but specifically Transport 21.

Between 1997 and 2005, the average annual growth rate has been 7%. Our debt to GDP ratio has declined. In 1997, it was 65%; it is now down to 27% or 28%. The level of employment exceeds 2 million for the first time in the history of the State. It is hard to believe that 15 years ago only 1 million people worked. Unemployment has fallen from 10% in 1997 to a little over 4%. There has been considerable debate about pensions but the pensions reserve fund was valued at €17.5 billion at the end of September.

Some Opposition Members have commented in the past that the country's economic success would have happened irrespective of who was in government and is due to external factors. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a people, and as a Government, we created the economic conditions, in fiscal policy, and through education and training. Social partnership agreements in particular have enabled the economy to develop.

There is a real increase in expenditure across all Departments in this Book of Estimates. That is in excess of the outturn for the rate of inflation, indicating that there will be no reduction in any service provided by the existing programmes and providing scope for all Departments to increase their activity.

Between 2000 and 2005, some 78 new schools were built at primary and post-primary levels and 23 new schools were under construction. Almost 400 large-scale refurbishments took place and approximately 50 new schools or projects are under construction. These figures may sound meaningless but in my area, Lucan, during that period they included three new primary schools, Lucan Educate Together, Griffeen Valley Educate Together and Archbishop Ryan national school, and one secondary school. This year, two secondary schools, Coláiste cois Life in Lucan, and Coláiste Bríd in Clondalkin have opened with capacities of 600 and 800 respectively. That is the real development into which the Book of Estimates translates for the people I represent.

There has been much talk about the rapid population growth in the west of Dublin due to economic success. That is the area I represent and its change from a three to a four seat constituency reflects the rise in population. The list of new schools, in addition to those that were extended, shows we are meeting the demands of the people coming to live in this area. I was taken by a point made by Deputy Paul McGrath earlier. He spoke about the need for better forward planning by the Department in regard to schools and education. He is right, but this is not only a matter for the Department of Education and Science; local authorities must put together sustainable plans and make site and other provision for schools rather than having ad hoc development.

It is difficult to believe we are living in the same country. Last Friday, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was in my constituency to turn the sod for a brand new school in Adamstown. What was most interesting and unique about this is that while so many hundred housing units are built, they are all currently unoccupied. The sod for this new school was turned before there is a single resident in Adamstown. The school will be built and operational by September 2007. That is an example of proper planning and development working hand in hand. Adamstown was probably the first strategic development zone to come on stream but——

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