Budget Estimates - Government must invest in target areas

The Estimates being published today are expected to indicate that the next Budget will involve record spending of over €40 billion, which will be up 10% on last year.

The indications are that the Government will be concentrating on three main areas -health, childcare and social welfare.

There is a real challenge to keep the economy as buoyant as it has been. For this, the Government can claim legitimate credit. In the midst of our current prosperity, of course, it has enjoyed a greater scope to introduce reform and promote advancement than any previous government.