Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Could I address a question to Ms Brassil from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform? One problem that arises in this is the procurement rules. Of course there has to be competitive tendering but, no matter how much the Department pumps in, if the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform's rules are so strict that they skew things in a completely different direction, the money simply flows out again. No matter how much money one puts into a rural economy, whether it is a certain part of Mayo, Laois or Offaly, the money will fly back out again and is not captured within that. I ask Ms Brassil to comment on that. Has her Department looked at how it can assist in rural development with regard to what is going in from other Departments, such as the Department of Rural and Community Development?