Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure there is something in between. We have come up with an alternative. If we could find the money, I would be the first to say I am sure there is something in between.

Let us look on the positive side. A total of €30 million in savings will be made through additional fraud and control measures. Some €34 million will be saved through increased efficiencies. These are not being recognised in any way even though they are brilliant achievements. A total of €34 million in increased efficiencies will be achieved, and that is as a result of the efforts of the people working in the Department and of the Minister.

In addition to bringing the cumulative adjustment to €290 million, the Minister has the information technology systems in the Department of Social Protection talking, as it were, to those in other Departments. That is a major achievement as well and has resulted in greater efficiencies. At one time when one asked a question of a Department or agency, the answer was they did not know because different Departments, agencies or sections within a Department did not talk to each other. The Minister has changed that.