Estimates vote won 79-61

The Government's Estimates were accepted in the Dáil last night by a comfortable 18-vote majority, 79 votes to 61. In the end there were no surprises as the Government's backbenchers voted to accept the Estimates, including the abolition of the first-time house buyers' grant, about which some most concern had been expressed.

However Mr Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind, Kerry South) who had an arrangement with the previous administration, voted against the Government for the first time in more than five years.

An estimated 11 Government backbenchers, dubbed the "11 apostles", had publicly expressed concern about aspects of the Estimates. They included Mr G.V. Wright (Fianna Fáil, Dublin North), Mr Noel O'Flynn (FF, Cork North Central) Dr Michael Woods (FF, Dublin North East) Mr Ned O'Keeffe (FF, Cork East, Mr Eoin Ryan (FF, Dublin South East), Mr Brendan Smith (FF, Cavan-Monaghan), Mr John McGuinness (FF, Carlow-Kilkenny) Mr Charlie O'Connor (FF, Dublin South West), Mr John Carty (FF, Mayo) Ms Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats, Dún Laoghaire) and Mr Noel Grealish (PD, Galway West)