Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

That is not a satisfactory answer because I am not asking about existing levels of service provision. I know the existing levels already from the final Estimates. I want to know the planned level of service provision particularly as the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, is facing a changed economic scenario with a €1 billion reduction in finances compared to the figures planned last year. What indications will the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance give in the pre-budget outlook on proposed levels of service provision for next year?

The Department of Finance offered meaningless discussions but we want to know the plans for Government spending in line Departments next year. We have always had such information by the middle of November and this is how we knew of proposals for social welfare cuts and expansions in previous years. There is no other mechanism available to us and this represents a loss of an important source of information.

I see people such as the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Devins, smiling. Perhaps he is presiding over some of the black holes planned for service provision next year.

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