Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear that it is not a continuation of previous reviews and aimed at cutting expenditure on vital services, which, unfortunately, the Government has shamefully done since 2011. I mentioned the report in the Department of Social Protection. Are all Departments compiling reports on certain programmes? Does the Minister nominate which programmes he wants to hear back on, such as, for example, the free travel or the school clothing and footwear allowance schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection? Does the Minister decide that and then other Ministers have to have the reports compiled? Who actually makes the decision? How are inflationary pressures taken into account? We have spoken, both at the relevant committee and in this Chamber, about important new measures and innovative services that the Government could put in place. Are the latter built into the rolling review?

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