Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While we will disagree on the extent of that, it is very much my position and that of the Government.

With regard to the €50 million, €51 million was provided in 2015 and the Deputy is correct in regard to the ministerial briefing. Some of that funding has spilled over into 2016 in terms of pay. The €50 million referred to in the programme for Government is not something that would have been available in my ministerial briefing. It is a political commitment by me and in the programme for Government to allocate €50 million in the budget.

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