Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A further €5 million will be allocated to extend the reach of the books-to-rent programme in primary schools.

Justice

We will be providing additional funding to the Department of Justice and Equality to increase staff for the Garda vetting service. Also in the justice sector, it is expected that the new court of appeal and the legal services regulatory authority will be established next year.

As previously announced, we will begin a new Garda recruitment programme next year, alongside the independent review of the force agreed under the Haddington Road agreement.

Summary

Making my Estimates speech last year, I said I was confident that, as a people, we would come through this mess - a mess that was created by those opposite, who now jeer, that was endured by the people of Ireland and that endangered the very viability of our State.

See this speech in context