Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This year it is €4 million for the computer development which started in the child benefit section and is progressing into pension services. If we want to deliver on Delivering Better Government we have to invest in that delivery.

Under the new Grow project, which will be on line shortly, information on every child born will be processed. Instead of waiting five, six or seven weeks for child benefit people have only to inform the Department where and how they want the money paid. All other details will be on-line and payment will be made automatically. It is a ten year project. Instead of the customer having to react to personal circumstances, the Department will be in a position to react. That is a good scheme and will benefit the customer.

The money I have provided this year for consultancies has led to the start up of that new project in the pension services office in Sligo. Unfortunately the technical people in my Departments say they need more money because they will have to extend the delivery period of the scheme because I cut the funding for consultancies.

I have targeted the resources to the best of my ability. Tough decisions have been made on the basis of where they would least affect people and discussions are taking place. I appreciate the concerns expressed and I will keep the matter under review. I shall be reviewing all the schemes at the beginning of the summer and I shall take into consideration the concerns expressed. I am not in a position to accept the amendment.