Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I gave a few examples of new announcements that were made yesterday in respect of the new housing finance vehicle. That will lend the money to developers to build on commercial terms. This body will have €750 million, it will use the expertise of NAMA, and it will lend the money to builders to build houses and they will then pay it back. We anticipate that it will not only produce new houses, it will also generate a return for the taxpayer.

The Deputy made reference to measures being announced previously and the funding announced in the budget. That is actually a normal course of events. For example, some weeks ago the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, announced that maternity leave would be extended for mothers of children who are born prematurely. This was announced some weeks ago but the money made available to do that was announced in the budget. That is often how it works. Some weeks ago I announced that we would extend our diplomatic footprint and open new embassies around the world. In yesterday's budget money was provided for this measure and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade gave more details on it. This is not something to be shocked or scandalised by. It is often the case that during the course of the year Ministers will make announcements about things they intend to do, and then the funding is provided for in the budget. That is how budgets work.

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