Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the timing, I expect the commission to report in or before May. Therefore, I do not expect the report to be issued towards the end of quarter 2. The discussions will be very difficult, as will all of the proceedings for the next year. The Deputy has made reference to where we stand from a resource point of view for next year. The answer is that, once the commitments the Government has made on increased levels of social welfare and funding our tax reform plans for next year are honoured, the net amount of currently unallocated resources, assuming current rates of growth continue, is around €500 million.

That is a significant amount of money, but given the competing demands for additional spending, additional services and additional changes in our tax structure, it is an amount of money on which careful choices will have to be made.

In answer to Deputy Calleary's direct point on new entrants, as the Deputy will be aware, progress was made in dealing with this area under the Haddington Road agreement where changes were made there. We will look to make the particular changes in that area as part of an agreement with the INTO and TUI.

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