Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This is why the Minister for Justice and Law Reform has brought forward the legislation to deal with white collar crime which is of such an interest to so many people and rightly so. We must deal with the real world here as must those who are applying for the fair deal scheme. The Minister for Health and Children informs me that applications are being processed and accepted. I trust the Deputy does not expect that final approval should be given for any scheme if there is no money to meet it. It is only right and in the interests of the taxpayer and the people, especially those who apply for the fair deal scheme, that they know where this money has gone and that we have a clear view of how the scheme can be continued. The Minister for Health and Children has asked for two weeks, some days of which have already gone, to find out where at least €100 million has been diverted from the fair deal scheme. The answer to Deputy Adams's question is that applications are being accepted and processed. In parallel, the Minister for Health and Children has called in the personnel dealing with the scheme to have a clear view of where the money has gone, how it has been spent and how the scheme can be continued as a consequence, in the knowledge that there is something there to meet it.

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