Inevitably, at Estimates time, many figures are quoted and the scale of overall spending can be lost in the detail. It bears repeating therefore that the abridged Estimates provide for total gross expenditure next year of €36.7 billion. This is nearly double the amount spent in 1997. Current spending will be over €31 billion compared to €17 billion in 1997. Since I became Minister for Finance, funding for the health service has increased by €5.3 billion, education spending has increased by €2.4 billion and social welfare spending has increased by €4 billion. Capital investment next year will be over €5 billion compared with only €2 billion in 1997.