Last week the Committee of Public Accounts had hearings on the issue of guardians ad litem. The Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was clear that there is a complete lack of checks and balances in place regarding the total amount of money spent in this area, which comes to €15 million per year in professional and legal fees.

To what legislation is the Deputy referring?

The Secretary General told me heads of a Bill are being worked on for guardians ad litem.

The issue here is that Tusla, which is the paymaster, and Mr. Fred McBride, who was before the committee, said the organisation is operating at the limit of its powers and has no legal authority to do so. This is a very serious issue where we have millions of taxpayers' money being spent without any proper checks and balances in place. Given the seriousness of the services that guardians ad litem provide to children at risk, it is very important that this legislation is prioritised.

On the issue of Bus Éireann and the Expressway-----

The Deputy may only raise one matter. He should sit down.

This is not an issue of industrial relations. It is an issue of Government policy-----

Deputy, please.

-----to privatise the bus route like it did in Waterford city where 100% of bus routes were privatised.

The Deputy is completely out of order. The Taoiseach should address one issue, please.

That is not Government policy. The Government has increased the subvention in recent budgets.

In respect of the child care (amendment) Bill which Deputy Cullinane mentioned, the heads were approved by Government at last week's meeting and it now moves on for pre-legislative scrutiny. I am sure Deputy Cullinane will be invited to make the relevant point, which he has made, in the course of the consideration of the heads of the Bill.