Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked two questions and I will answer them separately. I will provide the figure we have already allocated to indicate the shape of the additional expenditure I have sanctioned to date. As he will be aware, an additional provision has been made for health in respect of delayed discharges, the fair deal scheme and the winter and waiting lists initiatives. These were set out in the spring economic statement and amounted in total to an additional allocation of €100 million. I also allocated an additional €50 million, also set out in the spring economic statement, to cover a summer capital works programme in the Department of Education and Skills. Supplementary Estimates will be required for that allocation and for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, to which I allocated an additional €100 million before the summer to deliver additional rolling stock for Irish Rail, replace and expand the bus fleet and carry out maintenance work on non-national roads. A number of technical adjustments will also be required. The additional allocation in these three areas alone will amount to €250 million.

The reason we are providing for additional expenditure is that we have the capacity to do so. If the economy was not growing at such a rate and income to the State was not robust, we would not be able to allocate these additional sums. I do not believe the Deputy would decry the additional expenditure I have allocated. Certainly his party would not do so given the Private Members' motions and so forth it has introduced. We have increased spending because we are able to do so.

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