Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government Procurement Service is increasing its office expenses by 107%. These figures are all in the Estimates. The Department of Health is increasing its office expenses by 16%. The President's establishment is getting an increase of 12% for travel and subsistence. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is getting an increase of 150% for consultancy services and an increase of 4% for travel and subsistence. At the same time the most vulnerable in society - elderly people living alone - are losing their telephone allowance. The Senators opposite can shake their heads but these figures come from the Estimates of expenditure.