Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Recent Exchequer returns indicate a serious reduction in the tax take. It is undergoing radical decline in terms of budget projections and in absolute terms. This will result, and is resulting, in cutbacks and retrenchment, particularly in current expenditure. I am very concerned that these cutbacks are focused on front line services such as the reduction in home helps, the cancellation of the summer works programme and the proposed freezing of the reduction of school class sizes in primary schools. These are only some of the cuts. I put it to the Leader that we have a special debate on this. I second Senator Phelan's proposition that we have a debate on the economy, but I want a particular focus on this. Rather than reducing those front line services that are relevant to ordinary people, we should examine the quangos, the over-reliance on advisors and consultants and the marginalisation of the native civil service that parallels that. We should have an audit on this area, reduce that wastage and use the money saved for front line services. It is a horror that the focus is the other way. The old people who need home helps are the soft touch, the easy ones to target. It is difficult to tackle the quangos, administrative personnel, consultancies and the major financial interest groups involved. I put it to the Leader that we should have this debate to focus on these issues. We must engage in a retrenchment of the economy that is based on proper human considerations in terms of efficiencies and not on the backs of the weak in our society. I specifically want the issue of the reduction of class sizes at primary level put back on the rails by September. We must examine where cuts are possible. We can achieve much more by eliminating wastage and privilege in this country.