Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

In the context of the significance of the McCarthy report to preparations for next year's budget, will the Government publish a White Paper on where the McCarthy report stands because it is impossible for the Opposition to second guess the Government in regard to budgetary preparation if we do not have information from the line Departments?

As I stated, I picked the example of the review of special needs assistants that Members will be aware is being carried out on a school by school, SNA by SNA, basis at present. We need a broad state-of-the-nation discussion about where the Government stands on the financial position of the economy by the time the Dáil rises in July. It is not possible to plan for next year's budget.

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