Measures recognise neglect of services

By Caroline O’Doherty

The special €900 million fund, made up of €600m in current spending and €300m in bricks and mortar, to cover extra high priority services from 2006-2009, represents a substantial investment.

But another measure of its significance is that it is a long-awaited recognition of the gaps in services that have existed since the Government took power and the sizeable catch-up task ahead.