Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

They are being made to carry the can for some of these decisions. In the past two weeks the Government announced the capital expenditure programme, which resulted in a reduction of €750 million in capital expenditure. As the Minister knows that €750 million cut will directly lead to 9,000 people who are in work today not having projects to move on to next year and they will lose their jobs. I know the Minister has a funny way of looking at it by suggesting that we did not spend the money next year, so they did not have the jobs and therefore will not lose jobs. They are in work today on projects and will have no projects to move on to next year as a result of the Government's cuts.

Most people accept that in recent years there has been considerable improvement in infrastructure, but health and education should be the priority. However, in the capital expenditure programme for the next five years, health is getting only 11% and education is only getting 13%. The Government is giving a very limited amount to health and education, where extra money should be spent. We all know the issue of health and the nursing homes the Minister wants to close.

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