Funding and jobs questions raised over plan

A €2.25bn Government economic stimulus package was hit by serious questions last night as to how many jobs it would create, what number would go to foreign workers, and how the project would be paid for.

At a high profile launch, Enda Kenny said the investment in roads, schools, health and gardaí projects would bring 13,000 jobs, mainly in the construction industry.

But opposition parties queried the figure and suggested most would be temporary and not materialise for two years or more — and the confusion was added to by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar who claimed his €875m section of the project could produce up to 14,000 jobs on its own.