Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I wish to add to the expressions of concern on the vagueness of the cutbacks that were announced in recent days. I appeal to the Leader to clarify these issues for the House at the earliest possible date. The suggestion that there should be cutbacks in expenditure on consultancy and public relations is so basic and obvious that it should have been implemented long ago.

We also need clarity on the situation regarding the fair deal for older people on subventions. I understand from making representations that at present, the Health Service Executive cannot pay subventions at the 2008 rate. Subventions are being paid at the 2007 rate pending the fair deal. There is a gap in the interim and people are enduring shocking hardships due to the questions surrounding subventions. This matter is arising at all of our advice centres so I ask the Leader to make a clear statement to the House in this regard and get clarification from the relevant Minister on when the fair deal will be put in place, what will happen to the money that was ring-fenced for it but has been lost through cutbacks and whether people can be paid 2008 subvention rates in the interim.

I appeal to the Leader for clarification on the position of the decentralisation programme, particularly regarding County Cavan. The site there has been purchased but we were disappointed by Teradyne some years ago. Can the Leader confirm that decentralisation to Cavan will go ahead, given the level of expenditure that has occurred there? It should proceed given the commitment that has been made to it already. It would be madness to reverse that kind of expenditure and I ask the Leader for clarification in this regard.

I ask the Leader clarify an issue I have been raising with him for some time that is of great concern to me and which is now very relevant given the current economic situation. A battery of inspectors is travelling around the country making assessment of non-contributory old age pensioners. This group of people, who do not make PRSI contributions, is very small and consists mostly of married women who were debarred from working, small farmers and the long-term unemployed. Will the practice of assessing these people be abandoned due to the wasteful expenditure involved? I suspect that the cost of the administration of this process exceeds any savings it makes. This is a tyranny facing old people.