John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I did not expect that to be included. This highlights from the Opposition point of view that the major problem with the health service is not the provision of money. We all accept that vastly increased amounts of money are being spent in this area. However, where is the money being spent? Based on these figures, it is not being targeted on the health service per se. It is being spent on providing salaries for people who are not involved in providing front-line services. This is an issue the Government usually brushes under the carpet although it has stated it quite brazenly on this occasion, which is interesting to say the least.

I was also struck by the comment in the Minister of State's address that he wished to dispel the notion that the Government is seeking to introduce stealth taxes and promote increased charges in order to fund the proposed increases in public spending. He could have fooled me. Many stealth taxes and charges have been increased and are proposed as a result of this Book of Estimates. Members of my own family avail of the food supplement scheme. I was struck during the week to hear a man on the radio on a low income telling of the €45 per week he spent on special food supplements, which were covered up to this because he had a specific heart condition. I do not know what he was employed at but he will not be in a position to spend €45 a week from his income and will have to go without some of the supplements and therefore put his health at risk.

The changes in the social welfare system announced in the Book of Estimates is probably the most disgraceful aspect of this. It is penny pinching of a miserly fashion which targets the most vulnerable in society. There is no excuse for this. I agree that schemes must be updated on a continual basis, but there is penny pinching and penny pinching, particularly with regard to food supplements, and that was really wrong.