Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. I acknowledge the tremendous work being done by the Department of Rural and Community Development and its officials. Some of those are based in Ballina and are here with us today. All members would agree with regard to the essentialness of the Department's function in building and strengthening rural communities and making them more vibrant and welcoming places for people to relocate to and raise a family in, and also in the context of improving the quality of life for many people in rural areas. This must be acknowledged.

On the appropriation accounts, a surplus of €41 million was surrendered for 2021. Can we get an explanation as to why that amount was surrendered through those appropriation accounts?