Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin:

I can understand the disappointment felt by the Deputy and people in general about the timing. We were really hoping to get that out before Christmas but we want to do it right and maximise the moneys. When we make the announcement in January, it will only have been ten months since the round was opened, and this is two and half months or three months quicker than the previous occasion. Although we are at an historic high when it comes to applications, it will still be a relatively efficient process and it is certainly quicker than previous years.

On the underspend, I echo the Secretary General's point. It will have no impact whatever on grants.

There are public account rules as to how much capital can be brought forward any year. Within the sport division, we have maximised how much we can bring forward. It will not affect the outcomes for any of the applicants.