Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

If Deputy Ó Caoláin suggests there be provision for further investment in that area I remind him we are still budgeting for a 6.5% current budget deficit next year. We have provided in our capital programme for €8.2 billion of investment, a serious stimulus package towards economic activity from the Government. It is twice what it is in the EU and we note that the draft report from the Commission suggests an injection of 1% of GDP into the European economy. With our capital investment programme of approximately 5.5% next year we are already approximately 2.5% in excess of other countries. There is not as much room for manoeuvre as the Deputy suggests.

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