Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

In the manifesto set out by Fianna Fáil, tax revenue for 2010 was projected at €61.4 billion. This manifesto, which committed to major improvements, will have a black hole of €4.9 billion by that year. The total for the improvements committed to is €5.2 billion if the commitment to have a surplus that year is included. Given that the Minister will have less than 10% of the revenue he thought he would for these improvements, what is going to give? Will he revise these commitments or will we pretend the Minister will be able to fund 4,000 extra gardaí, 2,000 extra consultants and 4,000 extra teachers? Will he have a medium-term prospect of what is realistic given the resources available?

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