Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

In 1997 the equalisation and rate support grant from Senator Bannon's party in Government was €339 million. This year the outset allocation was €875 million. Other statistics bear out what I am saying. In 1997 the rural water scheme received €25 million compared with an outset figure this year of €119 million. Even allowing for Senator Bannon's rather peculiar approach to economics that is a significant increase.

I will give the Senator and the House a final figure. In 1994 the total contribution from central government to non-national roads, which are important for interconnectivity across the country, was €139 million, and in 1997 had gone up to €226 million. Senator Bannon would be the first to agree that the €558 million allocated this year is significantly better than either of those contributions. They are facts and if he wants to deal with other facts I will do so.