I regret that I did not measure up to the image with my red cloak and white trimmings. I envisaged Deputy Collins as Don Quixote de la Mancha when he was on his mission tilting at windmills because he came out fighting about the school transport service and began attacking something that unlike in Don Quixote's case was not there, some problem regarding school transport. At least Don Quixote had the windmill to remind him of the realities of life and one of its vanes struck him. I want to tell Deputy Collins that I found it very difficult to refrain from laughing when he expressed his great concern about our school transport system.
As he admitted himself, a Minister from his own party set up a special committee to find out how the transport service should be organised and to suggest a scale of charges, which is precisely what happened. When Deputy Ryan was Minister for Finance he flew a kite — in fact, he was an expert kite flyer — about the transport system but he was made aware in no uncertain fashion that he would not be allowed to interfere with it. I want to direct the attention of the Deputy and the House to the fact that more than £20 million was provided this year for the school transport system. I should not like any worry about it to come between Deputy Collins and his night's sleep during the next few weeks.
The Government are committed to education to the extent that they have allocated £536,318,000 for this purpose. That is £100 million more than was provided in the 1979 budget. If I include the non-voted money the sum is £545,397,000 which is a considerable sum to provide for educational services. Recently all Deputies received a memo regarding the census. I ask them to look at some of the statistics in that memo and in the census report. Speaking in general terms there are about 1,029,000 children in the category 0-14 years and more than 800,000 in the 14-29 category. The latter figure is not very helpful: it would be much better if we had a 14-22 grouping. On the continent the 14-29 grouping is much more significant because students there continue for a longer period in third-level education. The young people are the concern of the Government and it is for them the moneys I have mentioned have been allocated by the Government and have been voted by the House.
Deputy Horgan said there was a reduction in capital expenditure. However, if he examines the figures he will see that total expenditure on capital works this year was £59,500,000 which is £9.3 million more than the out-turn for last year.