Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind those in Fianna Fáil that in the last three years they were in government, there were 7,000 jobs per month lost. We are now creating 3,000 per month. That is positive and is the way forward. This budget plans to increase that number to over 45,000 jobs per annum and that is what we intend doing.

I wish to comment on the health budget because it is an important issue. When people talk about cuts in the budget they are automatically talking about cuts in services. One of the things we must do in the health budget is create efficiency. One of the problems I have with the health budget at the moment is that of the €13.3 billion total, over €3.4 billion is going out to agencies which are not under the control of the HSE. I have received several calls during the past two to three months from people in respect of these organisations. In one case I was told that a chief executive is earning €340,000 per year in an organisation where there have been no changes made in real terms, whereas all HSE staff were asked to take pay cuts. That is something I want examined. I have the matter before the Joint Committee on Health and Children scheduled for tomorrow morning. This is one area we need to start looking at to ensure we are getting value for money from the organisations to which we are paying out over €3.4 billion from the health budget. It is true that they are providing a very good service but I want to ensure that we are getting value for money. I am keen to ensure that taxpayers' money is used in a proper way and this is something that this budget is, hopefully, able to achieve.