Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I can assure the Senator that the Government will do its level best to ensure that we access all the EU funding that is available and that we will provide the necessary funding in this respect. In regard to the new scheme, its details have not yet been indicated and they will be available later this year.

There is no easy way around the fact that our public finances are in a difficult state. People like the Senator in opposition can call for cuts everywhere while also calling for more services and more spending but the two will simply not meet.