Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We prepaid the schemes last year, and much of that prepaid money has been delivered. A number of the new schemes were launched to support the economic development of rural areas, including the renewable energy support scheme, RESS, the ceantar laga árd-riachtanais, CLÁR, scheme, the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme and the town and village renewal scheme. Funding must transfer to these schemes from savings elsewhere in the rural development programme from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Vote last year. The schemes are being delivered through the local authorities, which were required to pay a percentage of the overall cost of projects under this scheme. However, when the newly announced schemes were launched in the second half of the year, the local authorities did not factor that expenditure into their budgets for that year. The local authorities had difficulties with their own budgets, but also in financing these schemes. In those circumstances, we obtained permission from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to make advance payments for last December. We have not made any decision for this year yet. For the town and village scheme to get any payment, 20% had to be spent for the local authorities to get 50%, and to get the remainder the full allocation had to be spent.

I want to move away from prefunding this year and move from advance funding to the better scheduling of programmes. The town and village scheme will be run over a 15 month programme.

I hope that will get away from the issue of prefunding. It is not that we are giving funding to private companies, the funding is going to another State agency, namely, the local authority.

Deputy Canney asked a very good direct question and I will give him a direct answer. He asked if I am looking at other ways and means of delivering those programmes. Yes, I am looking at ways and means because the local authorities are complaining to me that they do not have the resources or staff and that they are not able to complete some of the programmes. If that is the case I must begin to look at other ways and means of delivering the programmes, which are vital. People have sought the programmes and they are creating jobs.

There is a very simple scheme in Drumshanbo. We gave €700,000 to Waterways Ireland at the same time as we gave funding to the local authority. We were able to open the project in October. A total of 80,000 people have enjoyed the walks there already this year and eight new companies have been created. I want to see such projects start up and for the money to be spent. Deputy Canney knows it is not in my interest for the money not to be spent because he was a Minister of State in the Department. I want the money to be spent and for communities to benefit from it. If local authorities feel they are not in a position to deal with the schemes then I must look at other ways and means. I have a few ideas and I have asked a few people to make submissions to me on proposals for the running of schemes for us.