Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the increase in respect of Traveller accommodation, but the Minister has appeared before us previously regarding the main problem, that being, the lack of local authority spending. Where does the review process stand and how will it move forward within the next year? Will there be significant changes in who takes responsibility for the money's spending, given that local authorities do not seem able to spend it?

Regarding the re-profiling of the €13 million, the Minister has stated that the URDF will stay at the level originally intended and that he will just move this year's €13 million to next year. That amount has to be found somewhere at some stage. We are not spending it, so we use the extra €13 million from a cashflow point of view this year to help offset the cost of the children's hospital. At some stage down the road, though, that €13 million must physically be found for the children's hospital. Eventually, it has to be taken away from some programme. What will we face next year in that regard? Each year for the next number of years, every Department will have to find a certain figure to help fund the children's hospital. The Minister is moving this year's amount into next year and keeping the envelope the same, but that €13 million and whatever we have to lose next year will have to be found.

Regarding heading A8 on research - statistics and economics, there was an 81% increase in 2019. Will the Minister indicate where it will be spent? Under subhead A21, infrastructural funding will receive an additional €130 million. Will the Minister indicate where that will be spent?