Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will consider the checks and balances. I am meeting the officials in the afternoon and we have to see about the underspend. I have to consider the overall budget and see what I can do. I am still hoping the local authorities will respond and that we will see a major increase. I will make one promise to the Deputy, and he will criticise me when it happens, next year, if we are implementing schemes I will penalise them for the percentage they have not spent. There is no point in my giving funding to Cork County Council or Offaly County Council or others like the one that still has 18%. That is not acceptable. Something needs to be done. I will certainly examine it. I will meet the County and City Management Association, CCMA, shortly. Every one of them will receive a copy of that when they come in the door and I will ask them what they can do in respect of spending the money.

We have also commenced a programme of capacity building training for members of the Local Community Development Committee, LCDC, to help them deal with their Votes in administering Leader, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and other schemes. We are trying to assist them in spending the money.