John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

There is a clear difference between the figures in the Estimates and the commitment made by the Government after the 2002 general election, and no amount of verbiage by the Ministers for Finance or Justice, Equality and Law Reform can change that fact. The figures speak for themselves.

Contrary to the pronouncements by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, we have seen a 23% increase in expenditure on overtime and wages for prison officers in the past couple of years. We had a number of debates in the House on that issue and while the Minister has spoken strongly on that point, as on others, his actions are weaker than his words. The Estimates announce an incredible 92% decrease in funding for courthouses although many of these facilities are dilapidated. In Thomastown the District Court will not continue in its current building because those who work there refuse to use it.

Many people who have spoken on the announcement of the Estimates have referred to local authority funding. The Government proposes a 4% or 5% increase in local authority funding. Given wage and other inflation, this is a backward step and will oblige local authorities to increase local charges. Many members on both sides of the House have expressed frustration as we all deal with local authorities daily. We have seen a derisory 1% increase in the disabled persons grant and in other categories of housing assistance. Given the existing backlog in those schemes, a 1% increase is a slap in the face to the people who are in need of those supports.

The Estimates propose an 8% decrease in the amount of funding for the water and sewerage service programme. This runs contrary to comments on the need to increase spending on water and sewage treatment facilities throughout the country. It beggars belief that the Government could announce a €35 million decrease. I am baffled at the proposed decrease in funding for the food safety budget when we hear daily about threats from such issues as avian 'flu and beef imports from South America. It is incredible.

The Minister is at pains to point out the increases he has announced for the Department of Education and Science. I welcome the fact that extra teachers will be provided but to paraphrase the Minister's Cabinet colleague, Deputy Noel Dempsey, it is just a drop in the ocean. Some 73,000 primary school students are in classes of over 30 and 5,000 in classes of over 35. The Minister's 500 extra teachers will not address that backlog, never mind the Government's commitment to bring the ratio of pupils to teachers to the low 20s. While it is a small step in the right direction it goes nowhere near the Government's commitments and I see no reason for the Government to crow about it.

The Estimates allocate €2,000 extra for the National Educational Psychological Service across the country. The Leas-Chathaoirleach is probably sick of hearing me raise this issue, as I do so at every possible opportunity. Only 51% of children in primary education have access to the service and the Government has given them a slap in the face with this announcement, which constitutes a net cut in funding. Less than 50% of primary school students will have access to educational psychological services. That is a disgrace. In my own County Kilkenny, only 17% of primary schools have access to the service. If the Minister is to make extra announcements on budget day and wishes to do something in the area of education, this is one area where he could, with a relatively small amount of money, have a significant impact on the lives of young children and nip in the bud problems that could develop into greater issues in later life.

Contrary to the Minister's announcement on Transport 21, there is relatively no increase in funding for transport proposed in the Book of Estimates as opposed to what was announced for this year. To some extent that gives the lie to the grandiose proposals announced under Transport 21, which constitute a rehash of promises that were broken over the last five or six years.

Another scandalous situation this Government has allowed to develop relates to the hospital service, in particular to accident and emergency services. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, announced her proposals just after she assumed the position, yet the accident and emergency crisis is deteriorating rather than improving. During the lifetime of this Government since 2002, accident and emergency and inpatient bed charges will have doubled if the proposals in the Book of Estimates are approved. That cannot improve access to or provision of health services for those who most need it. The Book of Estimates contains no reference to increased funding for acute hospital beds but I hope this will be announced on budget day.

Contrary to the Minister's remarks on the increase in funding for the health services, it has been clear over the past years that the rate of health inflation is far higher than the average rate throughout the economy, and any increases he has announced in the Estimates will be more than swallowed up by the increases in health costs over the next two years. I am very disappointed at what the Minister has announced. While this is only part one of a two-part process, I hope he will learn some lessons and act on vital areas before the budget is announced.

I briefly wish to mention domestic violence, an issue which was recently debated in the House. The debate produced no agreement but contrary to all the platitudes from the Government, the increase in funding to address violence against women is a paltry 3%. After inflation, that is a decrease in real terms. Given that a relatively small sum would be involved, this might be usefully corrected before the budget.