Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I do not know if I got a chance to congratulate him on his new role.

We must remember that we are taking in €65 billion in income but spending €70 billion. We are still borrowing €5 billion to run the country. While we are on an upward trajectory, we have a long way to go yet.

The Minister for Finance spent €585 million in measures today. Were those measures the best ways to spend that money? That is ultimately the question we must ask. There are lots of small sweeteners being dished out but, when one thinks of the child care problem and the cost of child care, what will an extra €5 benefit do in a month other than buy a few extra ice-creams? It is not addressing the fundamental child care issue that Senator Zappone did a good job explaining.

I take this opportunity to share with the Minister of State a disappointment I have had. I published a budget reform Bill this year, the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2014. I was not allowed to debate that here and the Minister, Deputy Noonan, would not give the time. I see it as a lack of confidence on behalf of the Government not to listen to those ideas. They were simply this. First, every year, on a statutory basis, a balance sheet on where the country stands would be published mid-year. It would outline the country's assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities. It would take account of what is owed in pensions and in toll roads that are not making enough income, and where money is being set aside for the ageing population. When we had those facts mid-year, we could have a real debate. This mystery up until the last minute is a joke.

The second measure my Bill provided for was that we would know the ceilings that each Minister was allowed. For example, the Department of Education and Skills has €8 billion, but when one takes out pensions and salaries, we cannot see what is being achieved with the €2 billion that is left over. There are no targets or performance outcomes. How do we change society? This morning, on the Order of Business I spoke about the lack of career guidance counsellors and I hoped there would be a provision for that area, but there was not. We are losing €15 million in State fees in first year alone due to dropout at third level and one of the contributory factors is poor course choice - a poor matching of the student with what he or she wants. Career guidance counselling also contributes significantly to addressing the mental health fallout among these young people.

I will leave it at that. I am grateful to Senator Craughwell for sharing his time.