Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Minister's statement describing the jobs initiative as modest. I appreciate his efforts to stimulate activity by reducing PRSI and VAT rates, but he could have gone further with the VAT rates. One person can have dinner in a restaurant and go to the theatre, while another stays at home dying from the cold. Could the VAT rates on heating oil have been reduced?

My question relates to capital programmes for schools, roads and house retrofitting. Is it correct that 70% of this funding was already committed by the previous Government? What we have is an exercise in packaging and wrapping. Will the Minister confirm that 70% of the capital spend within the initiative was already allocated?

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