Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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There is a need for a debate in the Seanad on employment, even though there is virtually no unemployment, because we must look to the future. A business will not survive unless it is constantly innovating, day and night. We cannot presume that the current level of unemployment, at 4%, will remain.

On the total pre-budget Estimates figure of €48 billion, I would plead with the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to convey to the Minister that with the small sum of €18 million the Government could roll out a national cervical screening programme. There are 1 million women who are not able to participate in this programme, whereas there is a special scheme in the mid-west in which 70,000 women can participate. This is a black and white test. If the national screening programme is carried out, women can be saved from dying of cervical cancer. The €18 million needed is a modest sum in the context of the total budget spend.

My colleague, Senator Kenneally, spoke of broadband. Ireland's level of broadband roll-out is one of the lowest among OECD countries. This is part and parcel of industry keeping up to date and innovating. There is a need for a more widespread roll-out.

For the past 18 months I have been on a mission in the Seanad in trying to get child care dealt with. Child care should be part of the essential infrastructure in the country. It should be decoupled as soon as possible from children's allowance. Children's allowance is for clothing and food for children. It is crazy to have coupled it with child care expenses. While I hope the Government will substantially increase children's allowance for the stay at home parents, the facts are that practically 57% of women in the working age cohort with children under five years of age are working. These people need child care expenses. It should have nothing to do with children's allowance. There should be tax reliefs, vouchers or whatever.

We need a bold comprehensive plan for child care. We cannot be worrying about every group being equally treated. If the Government party of which I am a member does not get child care correct, it will pay the price. The number of women who are in the workforce today has contributed to the Celtic tiger. There would have been no Celtic tiger without the women and, generally speaking, the women are carrying the can for looking after the care and protection of children. I am looking for 60,000 extra child care places over the next five years to meet the demand. There are waiting lists, etc., and I need not engage in repetition.

The other point close to my heart is that Ireland should be an idyllic place for older people to live. Just as this is not a child friendly society, it is not an elderly friendly society. By the end of January I intend to bring before the House a document on a new approach to aging and ageism, similar in vein to my child care document. I am calling for the Government to hasten on the matter of pensions so that a person who retires has a decent standard of living. Why should people who have given their life's work for their country accept that their standard of living will drop when they retire? The idea is cracked.

My main concern is about child care. The Minister did not explain in detail in the Estimates what he will do in regard to child care. I hope the strategy for child care will be one with vision. If it is not, I can do no more about it.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Estimates. The discussion is worthwhile although it is a pity we do not have longer to explore in detail the possible options facing the Government. I listened with interest to the previous speaker, in particular her comments on her twin areas of concern, child care and care of the elderly. I congratulate Senator White on her work in these important policy fields, on which I hope the budget will deliver progress.

Most of the political debate in recent months has been on the child care front whereas care of the elderly has been sadly neglected from a policy perspective. The only occasion it was discussed in the House or elsewhere in the past 12 to 18 months was in regard to the nursing home repayments issue — a valid issue but not the entire equation. We need an urgent policy debate on the issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who is a former chairperson of the Southern Health Board, will be aware of the major difficulties we face due to the lack of proper funding and services for the elderly.

Senator White referred to vision. The former US President, George Bush Snr., was deemed to be inadequate in regard to what was called "the vision thing". If one charge could be laid against the Government, it is that despite the huge resources and spending capacity available to it, it has not had a vision. I take on board the Minister's point about prudent management of the economy, which is important. However, that management must be linked to a purpose. On the areas that really matter, namely, health, education, welfare spending, transport and housing, we have had management but we have not had vision. There have been strategy statements and consultants' reports but drive, energy and enthusiasm have been sadly lacking.

The current body politic, not just the Government, does not appear to have the same depth of vision innovation as was evident among the political leadership which existed when the country was in its infancy, when politicians across the political spectrum founded the State, established the ESB, built up industry, developed agriculture and put together a health service. We are so busy with the management of the economy that we do not appear able to plan with any degree of innovation or vision. I doubt the upcoming budget will represent a departure in this regard.

All politics is said to have local impact. In discussing the Estimates and the financial direction the Government is taking, I will consider my area of north Cork, which the Minister of State knows well and which could represent any area. I will focus on the north east of the county whereas the Minister of State would concentrate on the north west. The town of Mallow was deemed not only suitable as a location for a Government office under the decentralisation programme but was also given hub status under the spatial strategy. That strategy was quite laudable but has not been made a reality. Mallow today is quite similar to the town of five or six years ago, when it had not been granted hub status. We need to consider these issues and ask how we will deliver on hub status.

The decentralisation programme is becoming an Irish joke. The Fáilte Ireland office was to decentralise to Mallow. The chairperson of that organisation attended a breakfast meeting in the town some weeks ago. In a comment to the local press following the meeting, she indicated it might be ten years before the office would move to Mallow, which is bitterly disappointing. Mitchelstown was where the decentralisation programme was seen as a total fiasco. The community was told that Bus Éireann would decentralise one of its head offices to Mitchelstown, where 200 jobs would be created. It was then discovered that only 90 staff were working in the Dublin office concerned, which was a disappointing joke.

What will the Estimates do for Mallow General Hospital, which was recently deemed the cleanest hospital in the national hygiene audit? It needs significant investment. As it caters for many of the people in the Minister of State's new constituency, I hope he would have a personal interest in liaising with the Ministers for Health and Children and Finance to ensure the investment needed to keep hospitals such as Mallow General Hospital working at full capacity will be put in place.

Further investment is required in schools. Given that the national envelope of resources totals almost €50 billion, parents and children in communities throughout the country find it difficult to understand why educational facilities are not being provided at the required rate. I hope the Minister of State will attend next week's meeting of Members with representatives from the Buttevant area, where a new school is sought. The Estimates of some €48 billion and the Celtic tiger will mean little if we cannot respond to such requests.

I regret I must make another parochial point but it dovetails with the issue of the new transport strategy, Transport 21, and the €30 billion-plus involved. In recent times the Minister of State has regularly toured the north Cork area, from where one can hear his radio dispatches. The House will be glad to know the Minister of State is a great man to report on where ale prices are cheapest.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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What the Minister of State does in a neighbouring constituency is not relevant.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad the Senator is listening.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I refer the Minister of State to two of the most appalling stretches of road infrastructure in the country, the Mallow-Mitchelstown road and the Mallow-Fermoy road, both of which carry high numbers of vehicles per day and which are important for tourist access to north Cork and Kerry. Alas, in the most recent publication of the Minister for Transport's plans for major road infrastructure improvements, the two roads stood out like sore thumbs as they were not designated for any specific investment. I ask the Minister of State to request the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to make progress in this area. The budget and the Estimates are concerned with improving people's lives and——

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Senator to ensure his local authority has included this area as a priority. That is the fundamental question.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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It has been doing so for a generation. I await the Minister's response in the budget. The Government has the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people, given the record resources available. I hope it uses those resources well.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank the other Ministers who contributed to the debate, including the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen. The Book of Estimates published by the Minister is impressive and is published in advance of the 7 December budget. We look forward to a progressive budget, similar to those delivered by the Fianna Fáil-PD Government in recent years. There is an opportunity for Members to make a contribution and put suggestions, ideas and thoughts to the Minister.

As regards the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Vote 23 has provided the sum of €41 million for the Land Registry for 2006. This represents a 3% increase on the 2005 Estimates. It is important that the decentralisation programme is expedited because this has implications for the Land Registry. Some 230 jobs are planned for Roscommon town and it is important that they are provided for in the Estimates under the decentralisation programme. I wonder whether that will be a separate issue in the budget on 7 December where the Minister for Finance will outline and elaborate on the progress made in this regard. We want to see that project up and running as quickly as possible.

The present decentralisation of the registry of births, deaths and marriages has brought around 50 civil servants to Roscommon town and has been an outstanding success. The new facility at Convent Road houses the Department of Agriculture and Food, the General Register Office, the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which are all very welcome. We want to see continued progress in that regard.

As regards the Vote for the Department of Social and Family Affairs, I have spoken with the Minister and raised this matter in the House as well. The Minister, Deputy Brennan, has contributed greatly to the supports for the most disadvantaged in our society. However, as regards the free fuel scheme, I have asked the Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Finance to reconsider the situation whereby roughly €9 per week is granted to the 280,000 beneficiaries. That is a 29-week period from September to mid-April. Kerosene has increased in price and is now €660 per kilolitre. The same is true of diesel fuel. That is an enormous amount of money. Filling the tank once a year will not suffice for the average home and two or three refills may be required.

The cost of a bale of briquettes is €2.85 and coal costs €6.50 a bag, so the €9 is absolutely useless.

John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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There should be a clear statement of the Government's support in this area. The cost of fuel has risen dramatically and there has been an increase in the revenue accruing to the Department of Finance as a result. It is very hard to repay or give a price cut to diesel and petrol consumers at filling stations. If the Government reduces excise duty by 10 cent a litre it will rise accordingly on the other side. People take advantage of such initiatives.

The extra revenue, however, could be directed back to the more needy in society through the free fuel scheme because there is extra revenue available. It should be a year-round scheme. As a result of the inclement weather most people light fires during the winter, particularly the elderly. Those who need it most should have heat in their homes. The sum of €9 per week for just 29 weeks is absolutely useless.

John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I have made my case in this regard to the Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Finance. Although the Minister for Finance gives a particular package to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, he has an input in this regard, as has the Government as a whole. I know there will be massive increases in social welfare, old age pensions, child welfare allowances, etc. As Senator White has said, child care will be a major issue in the budget. However, the 280,000 people who are affected by the free fuel scheme should also be given special consideration.

Under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Estimate for the planning and development tribunal is at least €16.343 million this year. Added to the overall cost of the tribunal, this is an enormous burden on the State. I have no involvement, hand, act or part in the tribunals, but I must express concern. The tribunal is doing a job and the list of witnesses coming before it is enormous. It looks as if it will be running for years. It was reconstituted when Mr. Justice Fergus Flood retired from the tribunal.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I do not believe the tribunals come under the Estimates.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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It is well known that Mr. Justice Fergus Flood was chairman-——

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should not mention Mr. Justice Feargus Flood since he is not here to defend himself. The Senator should not take advantage of the privilege he has in this House.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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We are dealing with the Estimates and the cost of tribunals.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, we are.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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In that regard I should point out that the costs are spiralling out of all recognition. We have a duty as Members of this House, to point to situations as they arise. A serious issue arose last night. I will try to avoid giving names.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator will confine himself to tribunals in general.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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On tribunals in general——

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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He will make no specific references.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Cathaoirleach is making my life very difficult.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I do not know whose life is being made difficult. I would like Senator Leyden to respect the Chair and address the Estimates.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I respect the Chair but I also respect my right to freedom of expression.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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If it is in order and relevant I will give the Senator plenty of freedom of expression. He has only one minute left.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I will be quite specific. The tribunal is costing €16 million but it was undermined last night on Vincent Browne's programme by-——

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator will please resume his seat. He is not recognising the rulings of the Chair, so he will please resume his seat.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The tribunal should be scrapped on the basis of——

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I call on the Minister of State to reply.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A number of Senators have referred to the difficulty in understanding the Estimates and the lack of supporting information about what is being achieved for the expenditure involved.

In last year's budget the Minister for Finance stated he was open to considering how improvements could be made in the Estimates and the budgetary process in the context of the current situation in which we publish three-year economic and fiscal programmes in the EU stability programme updates included in the budget booklet; we have moved to multi-annual budgets which allow us to focus more clearly on the reasons we are investing and what we expect from such investment; and each Department publishes a strategy statement setting out what it is seeking to achieve.

On foot of his budget 2005 announcements, the Minister for Finance has been examining proposals for reform of the Estimates and budgetary process in conjunction with his Government colleagues. The recent report of the Committee of Public Accounts is a useful contribution to the general consideration of this matter. While retaining the right and duty of the Government to direct and manage the budgetary process, the Minister has been considering options which would facilitate more informed Dáil scrutiny of both the global tax and expenditure budgetary aggregates and of the individual Estimates for each Department.

In so doing, however, care must always be taken to ensure that the annual budget is based on the most up-to-date information available and that timely decision making by Government is not impacted upon adversely. The Minister intends to return to this matter on budget day.

As regards the local government fund, which provides the principal Exchequer contribution towards the day-to-day funding of local government services, this will be €30 million higher in 2006, bringing the total provision to €519 million. This is a 6% increase, similar to 2005, and will allow service improvements to be put in place.

I wish to emphasise that the decline in the provision for water and sewerage programmes reflects the significant progress made in recent years in completing major schemes in cities and towns. As regards claims that there is no increase in provision for Transport 21, courthouses and other areas, the 2006 pre-budget Estimates are the figures set out in the 2005-09 capital envelope. The Minister for Finance will announce a new capital envelope for 2006-10 on budget day. This will reflect increased investment in the Transport 21 framework and other areas.

Contrary to the impression given by Senator McDowell, the capital carryover arrangement under the capital envelope is working extremely well. It is certainly leading to better management of programmes, a more even flow of projects and with the revised capital appraisal guidelines to move projects coming in on time and within budget, it is proving to be very satisfactory. If the carryover is examined in the two years of its operation to date, it is just over 4%. This is money which would otherwise have been lost to the very programmes that are being questioned.

We are also seeing real improvements in services from the substantial increases in expenditure provided by the Government. Anyone waiting for more than three months for a routine surgical procedure will now be facilitated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Up to 31 October 2005, over 36,300 patients have had treatment arranged for them by that fund. The fund has also made significant progress in reducing waiting times for patients. Data for the seven hospitals currently included on the new patients treatment register showed that, on average, patients are waiting between two and four months for their operations for 17 out of the 20 most common surgical procedures.

The pupil-teacher ratio at primary school level has fallen from 22.3:1 in 1997 to 17:1 in 2004. At second level, that ratio has fallen from 16:1 to 13.6:1 in the same period. This has been achieved at primary level despite a steady increase in the number of pupils from under 440,000 in 2001 to 446,000 in 2004. Hospital inpatient and day case patient discharges increased in 2004 by 4.4% over 2003. In line with international best practice, the emphasis is on day work. Day work discharges increased by 8% the same period.

The Minister for Finance will be making additional provision on budget day for social welfare, child care, and care of the elderly, as well as the capital investment programme. The Government's sound fiscal and economic policies have led to increased prosperity and have improved the quality of life for all our citizens. It has enabled us to fund real improvements in public services and to target priority social needs. Priority is also being given to spending on health, education and social welfare in the 2006 Estimates. The Estimates provide for gross expenditure of around €48.5 billion, of which €42.2 billion is current and €6.3 billion is capital. It represents an increase of almost €3 billion over the 2005 budget, or an increase of 6.6%. Therefore, I am very pleased to commend the 2006 Estimates to Seanad Éireann.