Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

On that point, balance is only required at an overall level. There is considerable flexibility for local authorities to make decisions as to how they wish to minimise spending in some areas to maximise spending in other areas. We do not micro-manage the local authorities. We leave it to them to decide how they will spend their money. The local authority in this instance does intend spending €15 million and therefore there is some flexibility in the way it goes about that work.

The big picture, however, is the Stability and Growth Pact and we cannot ignore the wider economic picture. I know that means tough decisions have to be made in some cases but they have to be made at all levels of Government expenditure. As I am sure Senator Ryan is well aware, 80% of the Government budget goes on health, social welfare and education. There are tough decisions to be made but we have to get Ireland through these difficulties in order to emerge and create employment in the future.