Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I ask the Taoiseach about the commitment in the programme for Government and the commitment given by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to publish the results of the comprehensive spending review in October. There is a lot of interest in this. Along with other Deputies, I attended a meeting the other night on special needs provision, where cutbacks are continuing despite a level of funding being made available which has not been reached. The Taoiseach acknowledged the freezing of 475 posts for emergencies. They could be released. When can we expect the comprehensive spending review to be published? Will it be in the middle of October? Will it be before the crucial electoral date at the end of October?

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