Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

In a reply to a question last month the Taoiseach stated that the planned expenditure levels for his Department will be considered as part of the budgetary process for 2010. He stated that it would include consideration of the proposals of the McCarthy report, for instance. What is the process for such consideration of that report in his Department? Is the Department of Finance anchoring that process? Is the Department of the Taoiseach or any other Department in dialogue with the Department of Finance regarding those proposals? These are the proposals contained in a report which caused consternation throughout the country, especially in most disadvantaged areas because it proposed savage and illogical cuts in health, education, social welfare and a range of services such as CDPs and family resource centres. What role will Members of the House have in such consideration of that report in the context of planned expenditure levels in his Department in the next few months but, in particular, for next year?

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