Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In a similar way, people get a sanction for money under these things and, for one reason or another, there are delays in commencing and so on. I am being pragmatic and while we would much prefer to be way ahead in approvals, we are where we are. I accept that it is ramping up slowly but no matter how fast it ramps up in the second half of the year, very little of what is approved in the second half of the year will be spent this year. Moreover, much of what has been approved to date will not be spent this year. I welcome the Minister's commitment that there will not be an underspend this year and that if it is not going to be spent on Leader, we will start to put it into other things. The Minister can swap it around and get the money next year. Leader will always be funded by Government.