Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

What are we to make of the programme for Government published in June to which all parties signed up? The Minister will not tell us how much it will cost but I estimate the total will be at least €7.5 billion. The total amount of revenue which in May the Minister stated would underpin it will not be there. Is the programme for Government a work of fiction or a genuine planning document on the basis of which we can expect the Government to develop its ideas? If the Minister now states the money will not be there, let us have a realistic programme and we will consider priorities. Is the Government's priority the NDP or to have 4,000 extra teachers or 2,000 extra gardaí? The public deserves to know and we deserve to have a sensible programme so we know how the money will be used and how scarcities will be prioritised.

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