Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, for sharing time with me and congratulate her on the major contribution she has made to the Department's work. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute briefly to this important debate on the 2007 Estimates.

It is important for me to acknowledge the outstanding work of my fellow Kildare man, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, during his tenure at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the nation's finances. I congratulate the current Minister, Deputy Cowen, on the manner in which he has built on the successes of his predecessor and the exceptionally effective manner in which he has managed the nation's finances in the past two years leading to the compilation of this well crafted, properly balanced and well targeted Book of Estimates.

While other major economies across the developed world continue to endure high levels of unemployment, inflation and taxation, ours has seen phenomenal levels of growth, moderate rates of inflation, decreasing levels of personal taxation and a daily increase in the national workforce. With over 2 million people now at work, the challenge is to sustain the progress achieved and continue to create the environment which will facilitate economic growth and a consequential improvement in social services. This Book of Estimates represents an important element in the continuing Government drive to achieve these objectives.

County Kildare is experiencing extraordinary levels of growth and the areas of health care and policing are uppermost in residents' minds. To that end, I welcome the significant increases provided by the Minister for Finance to the Departments of Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. There must be ongoing investment at Naas General Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy. In particular, the HSE must make additional public nursing home beds available to our growing elderly population.

The increase of 9% in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Vote is welcome. The increase of 10% in the allocation to the Garda Síochána must result in a greater Garda presence and significantly higher Garda visibility on the streets of towns and villages in Kildare and throughout the country.

In the education area, the Estimates provide some €742 million of additional funding. In County Kildare in the last several years, the emphasis has been on capital funding, with the provision of new schools, additional classrooms and refurbishment of buildings. Major progress has been achieved, particularly across south County Kildare, not least in the last two years.

While there will continue to be demand for ongoing capital provision to facilitate local population growth and the continuing reduction in class sizes, it is important that emphasis has also been placed on providing additional funding for the day-to-day operation of primary and secondary schools. As a member of several boards of management in my constituency and as a parent, I say with certainty that the increased capitation allowances, together with the increased ancillary services grant, will reduce substantially the pressures which some boards of management and parents' associations are under to fundraise locally.

The agriculture sector has been struggling for some time to cope with massive changes brought about largely by decisions at European Union and World Trade Organisation level. One of the aspects that attracted me to Fianna Fáil in the 1970s was the party's commitment to establish as many families as practicable on the land. Although we are unfortunately living through a period where the number of full-time farmers is declining throughout the developed world, it is reassuring to note that Fianna Fáil in Government retains its strong commitment to the farming community. I pay particular tribute to the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, on the highly effective manner in which she has managed her portfolio and her success in securing a 16% increase in her Department's Estimate for 2007.

We must strive to ensure that farming represents an attractive career option for young people and that they can look to the future with confidence. Our key objective must be to maintain as many families as possible on the land and to ensure that those committed to full-time farming can enjoy a standard of living and income comparable to those enjoyed by workers in other sectors.

I compliment the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on what he has achieved. The increased allocation for his Department brings with it a major onus on local authorities to take ownership of their own budgetary situations and to ensure that they deliver, for the citizen and the State, the value for money that is required.

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