Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, for introducing a quality Book of Estimates. It is based on having money and deciding how to allocate the resources. I am pleased that there will be increases in the areas about which Senator Terry has expressed concern. I, too, would be concerned if the disadvantaged were not looked after, if adult education was not looked after and if the community employment schemes were not restored in areas in order that we can have a good quality of life in our communities. However, this will happen this time, which is what I like about these plans. They focus on areas of quality of life for children, the disadvantaged, the elderly and people who need help in their homes in the form of respite care and so on.

I have read through the various programmes and am pleased that the Government will announce a quality of life budget next week.