Can we have order for the Order of Business? If the Tánaiste is ready, we may proceed.

It is proposed to take No. 13a, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 6, 7, 12, 17, 20, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35 and 40]; No. 13b, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimates [Votes 6, 7, 12, 17, 20, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35 and 40] to select committee or sub-committee; No. 13c, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Urgent Social Housing Supply) Policy Directive 2015; No. 8, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed); No. 1, Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 47, statements on developments in mental health services under this Government and the order shall not resume thereafter.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: Nos. 13a and 13c shall be decided without debate, and subject to the agreement of No. 13a, No. 13b, referral to select committees, shall be decided without debate and any divisions demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith; the proceedings in respect of No. 47 shall be taken at 3 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called on in that order, shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and such Members may share their time, the statement of each other Member called on shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case and such Members may share their time and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called on to make a statement in reply, which shall not exceed five minutes.

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 13a, 13b and 13c, motions re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates, referral of Supplementary Estimates to select or sub-select committees and referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Urgent Social Housing Supply) Policy Directive 2015, without debate, agreed to?

No. The process of rolling out Supplementary Estimates, totalling €1.6 billion, commences today. Undoubtedly, moneys for education services, An Garda Síochána and so on are necessary and welcome. We should not, however, in this of all years, proceed in the absence of a debate in this Chamber because this is the last year of the Supplementary Estimates process. Year-on-year budgets are introduced and Supplementary Estimates are later provided to plug identified gaps. What the Government proposes to do in the budgetary cycle when the Supplementary Estimates process is no longer available to it is a serious matter that requires debate and it would be remiss of us as parliamentarians to let it pass.

On the Planning and Development (Urgent Social Housing Supply) Policy Directive 2015, I can only assume that it refers to the modular housing proposal. Again, it is a new departure in social housing provision. We are told that it is an emergency measure, around which many of us have got our heads on the basis that providing modular housing versus bed and breakfast and hotel room accommodation is the lesser of two evils, but it is far from the ideal solution. The concern is that this will become the face of social housing provision in the State. Again, this matter is worthy of consideration and debate in this Chamber.

The Supplementary Estimates were published in detail on budget day.

I am aware of that.

We have had a very detailed debate on the budget. The additional funding which, as the Deputy correctly said, amounts to over €1.6 billion in gross voted expenditure in 2015 has allowed the Government to target additional expenditure at areas experiencing increased demand and demographic pressures, particularly the education system, An Garda Síochána and a number of other important sectors. The Supplementary Estimates do not include the proposed health or social protection spend because at this stage we do not know what the final PRSI receipts for the year will be. In the case of my own Department, we are not a position to accurately predict what the Supplementary Estimate will be, but we do know, for instance, that, as has always been the case, the Christmas bonus will be paid from it. There is also a timing issue in the making of pension payments on New Year's Eve rather than the following day. I can tell the Deputy what the likely spend will be, but until such time as the PRSI receipts and more information on the November returns have been received, we will not know what the definitive outturn will be. Approval is being sought today for 13 Votes, with an aggregate value of €472 million, €175 million of which is being allocated to the Department of Education and Skills, from which €50 million will be provided for the summer works programme for schools. An Garda Síochána is being allocated an additional €35 million, which I am sure will be welcomed on all sides of the House. An additional €100 million is being provided for public transport, which I would have thought would be welcomed by Sinn Féin. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is receiving an additional €50 million to provide for further expenditure on regional job creation measures, which, again, I am sure will be welcomed on all sides of the House. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is receiving an additional allocation of €65 million.

The Supplementary Estimates were announced in the context of the 2016 budget. If Sinn Féin wants to have a debate on the matter, I do not have any problem with it, but I suggest the Deputy take up the matter of the arrangement of that debate with the Whips of all parties. We should proceed with the Supplementary Estimates because they provide for the allocation of additional resources for gardaí, schools and the public transport system.

Did the Tánaiste listen to my question?

I hope Sinn Féin will be able to agree to that proposal.

Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 13a, 13b and 13c agreed to?

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

I have put the question.

On a point of order, this is a very studied art form from the Government benches. I made a specific point. I pointed to the reality that this was the last budgetary cycle during which the mechanism of introducing Supplementary Estimates would be available.

Is it schools or gardaí that the Deputy is against?

That was the basis for my request for a debate, in response to which all there was ráiméis and a deliberate evasion of the question. I also raised the issue of modular housing.

Is the proposal agreed to? Agreed.

In case I was not clear, I indicated to the Deputy that I was open to having a further debate on the Supplementary Estimates in the House-----

It will be a great debate.

----and suggested that she take up the matter with the Whips. However, the motion before us should proceed on the basis proposed. As I stated, I am open to the idea of having a further debate.

Will the Tánaiste take up the matter with the Whips?

We want to talk about the additional investment in An Garda Síochána, schools and so on.

Is the proposal for dealing with statements on developments in mental health services under the Government agreed to? Agreed.