Ms Sheenagh Rooney:

I have already outlined the reasons for the time that needed to be spent on due diligence, and that we are engaging on a regular basis with the lead parties. We are at €22 million but we have line of sight to a greater spend between now and the end of the year, and we are currently processing payments in that regard.

I want to highlight that because there has been a ramp up in LEADER spending this year. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a reallocation of €10 million from the rural regeneration and development fund to LEADER, and the Minister would have highlighted that previously when he was in front of the committee. While it is good to see the ramp up in LEADER spend happening, it also enables us to manage the cashflow in regard to the rural regeneration fund. Therefore, there is still an amount of money to be spent this year and we are very much engaged in that at the moment.