William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It would not happen in local authorities. We never sent back money for roads or housing or anything, I tell Mr. Morrin that. This is the problem. I do not want to get excited over it but I will just say that I believe if a person goes in for a scheme, they should be paid the money for the scheme. I also say that I hope Mr. Morrin realises that an awful lot of farm families out there, as has been alluded to by Deputy Fitzmaurice, depend on this money. They depend on this money to pay their bills. Ask anyone they owe money to, it all comes in when it is paid out. That is why I am saying that there lies the frustration. Some people just throw their arms up and say they have had enough of this, and they get out and sell their land. Every time that money comes in you can look at the records. The record will show that a percentage of people exit because they find it is mentally straining, too difficult and that is why I am saying it is awful to think, between all of us here, we fight every day to get more money and then it is sent back. Is that not shocking? In my opinion that would be tolerated nowhere.

I move to my next question. If the delays are due to technical issues, is investment planned to fix or replace the underlying IT systems that are clearly not fit for purpose?