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

We might compare figures afterwards and see what is the gap. Either way, it is a large figure. No other issues were identified in the process with the community employment sector regarding the scoping of the costs of different options to address the matter. I outlined in my reply to the Deputy what work the forum did and the costs relating to it.

Regarding Deputy Burton's comments, I answered the question on community employment and I said I recognised the value of what people in the sector do and the contribution they make. The Deputy offered a description of me lashing out money but let us look at what that is for. It is additional money to provide social housing this year, to deal with homeless services and to maintain health services. I am sorry the Deputy has such a view on making money available to organise the visit of the Pope, who is a Head of State, to our country. It was about trying to ensure the event could go well and safely in recognition of how many people would participate in it.

We have a public sector wage agreement that is not even a year old and I am committed to maintaining it.

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