On Monday, the Taoiseach attended the launch of a plan to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Tallaght. I hope that he, and especially his Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will support that plan and provide the necessary funding.

I wish to address the Taoiseach regarding the Government's commitment to the needs of all children, with special focus on health care provision for them. Is he at all aware of the depth of anger in the wider community regarding the waste of public moneys on the provision of IT systems to the Department of Health and Children and the health sector that have failed and are simply not working? Can he confirm that there is another example of a failed computer system in the health service, this time in a midlands hospital? Does he appreciate the extent of people's anger at the massive waste of public moneys in the engagement of consultants by a whole raft of Departments, something recently exposed in answers to Dáil questions tabled by my colleague, Deputy Morgan? Do the Taoiseach and his colleagues appreciate the reason for that depth of anger? People know the scale of need in society, and that is what lies behind their anger. They recognise that those needs, especially those of children, are not being met. Yesterday Barnardos launched its proposals to tackle child poverty, and I commend its document to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and especially the Minister for Finance as essential reading in the lead-up to the preparation of his budget in December.

We understand that the failed PPARS system has now been suspended at a cost of €150 million so far. Is the Taoiseach aware that in reply to a Dáil question from this Deputy——

The Deputy's time is concluded.

——the Minister for Health and Children advised that it would cost only €160 million to extend full medical card cover to all children and young people under the age of 18? How can the Taoiseach defend a system whereby money that could be spent on providing essential medical cover and care for all children is instead wasted on consultants and IT systems that do not work? When will he prioritise need, end waste and stop rewarding greed?

The Deputy's time is concluded.

Will the Taoiseach make a commitment to extend full medical card cover to all those under 18?

Instead of giving it to Deloitte &Touche.

The Deputy will appreciate that in most instances where money has been spent to try to improve systems, it is because they are not effective and need to be enhanced. PPARS and other projects were aimed at integrating systems to make them more efficient and so we have more timely information and can provide a better service to the public. That is the reasoning behind them. Regarding the project the Deputy mentioned I attended the other day and the issues raised by Barnardos and other agencies, the Government continues to provide enormous resources across a range of areas, including disadvantage in education, the DATE project and projects on social and community affairs to assist those in need. All the recent UN surveys indicate there has been a dramatic improvement in this regard.

However, there are still those who are disadvantaged and excluded and the Government will continue, across health and education, to provide for them. The Deputy is aware the Government has made changes to the medical card system with some 140,000 new cards issued in the last year. Moreover, the Tánaiste has made changes to take net pay into consideration, a measure that helps many families with children. The Government will continue to support the provision of quality housing and other programmes to help those who are disadvantaged.

The PPARS fiasco is not an enhancement and has so far cost the taxpayer €150 million. Does the Taoiseach realise it would cost in the region of €151 million, a comparable figure, to fund the extension of paternity benefit and maternity and paternity leave over a three-year period up to 2008, as estimated by the National Women's Council of Ireland in its recent comprehensive proposals on child care? What measures will the Government introduce to ensure the best standards of care for children, whether that care is provided in the home by one or more parents or in part-time child care?

Will the Taoiseach ensure his Government dispenses with consultants and instead consults parents and children on their needs? Only in this way can one properly be informed of the depth of need in our society in this regard. Will the Taoiseach affirm a commitment to the needs of children? He failed to say in his reply whether the Government will provide an extension of full medical card cover to all children under 18 years of age.

The Taoiseach has been asked a direct question and should give a direct answer.

The Deputy is aware that the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children are being implemented nationally. This is a scheme to help those who suffer disadvantage and those on the margins, right across the range of services. The National Children's Office and the various Departments are actively engaged in meeting the needs and requirements of children. This strategy incorporates programmes such as the DEIS project, the new action plan for educational inclusion.

I answered the Deputy's question on the medical card guidelines. Eligibility has increased to 1.4 million and an additional 140,000 cards have been issued this year. The Tánaiste has enhanced the scheme to better facilitate the provision for children and we will continue to implement improvements in this regard.

Will the Government provide medical cards for all children under 18 years of age?

The Taoiseach has replied to the Deputy's question.