Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There is a major allocation for the new national energy retrofit programme. This will combine existing domestic energy efficiency initiatives, supporting jobs for former construction workers and making sure that the tax credit is available as well as the direct grant-in-aid through the various schemes. The tax credit scheme will be of wider application and bring in more types of remedial and improvement works, which I believe is necessary as people look now to improve their own housing situation rather than buying up. This programme will be complemented by a new tax credit for domestic energy efficiency improvements.

Most important, we have prioritised spending on enterprise supports. At a time of major crisis, it is appropriate to draw on all our resources.

We will continue to bring forward public private partnerships in transport, education and health. We will help to identify public investment opportunities for the National Pensions Reserve Fund and other private investors, and we will support major investments by our commercial semi-State companies - more than €2 billion in the energy sector alone in 2011.

The Government remains convinced that North-South co-operation is a central element in the push for economic recovery. Budget 2011 has maintained overall funding levels for North-South co-operation, with a total allocation of over €110 million.

The increased allocation of €14 million for cross-Border transport initiatives will help promote jobs and economic recovery in Border communities and the wider economy. This includes the necessary funding to meet the Irish Government's commitment to the joint projects to upgrade the cross-Border road network, and we stand by those decisions.

The budget also includes funding of almost €80 million for the North-South bodies. Of course, like all other public sector bodies they will see reduced budgets, but this substantial funding will enable those bodies to continue their essential work.

The future prosperity of the island economy is essential to building on the peace we have achieved and to creating economic opportunities for a new generation that can enjoy that peace. We will not let our economic difficulties distract us from that core mission of this Government.

As well as the work of the North-South bodies, areas of co-operation such as health and education, and joint investment projects, there is an increasing range of shared economic concerns between North and South in areas such as banking, energy and research development. I look forward to discussing these issues with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Executive at the British-Irish Council meeting next week and at the next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, which I expect to be held shortly.

Our economy retains very significant strengths. We have the youngest population in Europe, with one in three under 25; we have the highest proportion of graduates among the 25 to 34 age group in the European Union; our exports are performing strongly; we are the ninth best country worldwide in which to do business-----

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