Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

Deputy Barry Cowen asked about the capital programmes. We have explained the allocations. Some of the allocations for retrofitting, roads and schools are coming from the Departments' capital allocations and being veered to get more work done and produce extra economic activity from the expenditure. We are not hiding anything. We have laid it out.

The Deputy also referred to energy related projects and the price of heating oil. Since Fianna Fáil's sojourn with the Green Party in government we have a thing called the carbon tax which is driving prices in one direction. It would be illogical to try to drive them in another direction by a reduction in the VAT rate on energy products.

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