Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to Senator Mooney, this is not the first year that funding has been taken from motor tax income and used to service the national debt. That was done last year as well, with an amount of ¤46 million. This year, the maximum that can be taken is ¤150 million. This will only happen in the last quarter of the year when all of the issues will be examined and the balance that is deemed to be needed will be passed. It is important to stress that the limit of ¤150 million cannot be exceeded and, indeed, it may not necessarily be reached. I hope that is helpful to Senator Mooney. The sum of ¤150 million is essentially a ceiling on what could be transferred when the accounts are examined towards the end of the year.