Mr. John McCarthy:

On the issue of frustrations in regard to projects such as that in Carrickphierish, as mentioned by the Deputy, as we move on with the implementation of the national development plan, the new urban and rural regeneration funds provided for in the plan will give a better mechanism to ensure more integrated urban development. That will proceed on the basis of a very planned approach and an understanding of the community and other infrastructure that need to be put in place, which will involve pulling together the relevant Departments with the intention of getting a better output. I too regularly talk to local authority chief executives, who express frustrations from time to time, which I understand. However, I tell them that there is a lot of money at stake and there are times when we must ensure we are doing everything we can to ensure value for money. I am rightly here today as Accounting Officer for that process. There is an inevitable tension with local authorities in that regard but we try to work as collaboratively as we can.