andMr. E. Collins asked the Minister for Education how he expects to effect each of the following expenditure reductions in the Votes for which he is responsible and for which provision has been made in the Book of Estimates: (a) £122,000 for travelling expenses, (b) £42,000 for school transport, (c) £125,000 for technological aids, (d) £92,000 for youth and sport, (e) £25,000 for annual repayment of building loans, (f) £6,000 for miscellaneous vocational school education expenses, (g) £115,000 for regional and technical college building grants, and (h) £6,000 for travelling expenses in the National Gallery; and if any of the cuts will result in a reduction in the level of services to the public.

The control of expenditure within the limits of the allocation specified in the Votes of the Estimates for Public Services is a matter of normal administration to be exercised over the course of each relevant year. The amounts for 1981 specified in the subheads referred to in the question are the estimates of the expenditure related to the circumstances of the financial year 1981 and are not adjustments of the amounts for 1980. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to refer to variations in the amounts as between 1981 and 1980 as expenditure reductions to be effected in 1981.

Would the Minister indicate if it is proposed in the Estimates to spend less on school transport this year than was spent on it last year?

The estimate, as it appears in the Book of Estimates, is what we literally estimate the scheme will cost in 1981.

Yes. Could I ask the Minister to be so kind as to answer the question which I have asked him?

Just once.

Namely, will the money to be spent as provided in the Estimates this year for school transport be less than the amount that was actually spent last year? That is the question which I originally asked the Minister.

The actual money in the Book of Estimates is the amount we estimate it will take to provide an adequate transport system for schools in 1981.

Could I ask the Minister again if he would answer the question I asked, not a question which I have not asked? I asked will the amount to be spent this year, as provided in the estimates, on school transport be less than was actually spent last year? That is the third time I have asked that question. I would ask the Minister, not out of respect for me but out of respect for the House of which he is also a Member, to answer the question as it is intended to be answered.

I have respect for the House, through the Ceann Comhairle, for the Deputy and for the facts and the facts are that we sat down and estimated the amount of money that it would take to provide a school transport system for 1981. The Deputy will find that amount in the Book of Estimates.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that the amount provided for school transport in 1980 was less than in 1979 and that the amount this year is less than last year?

I have not got the figures the Deputy is seeking, but I repeat that my Department made up the sum which the school transport system would cost in 1981 and that is the figure that is in the Book of Estimates.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does that mean it will cost less this year than last year?

The figure in the Book of Estimates is what it will cost, and it will provide a good school transport system.

Is not the plain message in the Book of Estimates that the parents will have to dig deeper into their pockets for school transport?

When putting our sums together we did not take into account any contribution from the parents, who will not have to make a contribution.

In view of the grossly unsatisfactory nature of the reply I ask your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

I will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for next Tuesday.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The question might be solved by a petition from the backbenchers, as it was last year.