Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That sounds like a dramatic improvement, which is good. I have read the Department's views on the issue of the return of €11 million, which was not spent. I understand that the issue is more complex than it appears at first glance. Some people would take the view that the Department received €11 million which it did not spend, whereas the Department might say that there was an overestimation. The idea is that it is almost better to ask for more than one needs, which can be given back, rather than to have too little. I do not know if that is a fair way to portray it. I am not sure that view is fully borne out in respect of the lack of awareness of the availability of interventions. For example, only one third of the publicity budget which was made available to promote interventions was spent. On the three finalised programmes, as little as 10% of the available publicity budget was spent. Is the Department satisfied that the money that is being given to Ireland for these interventions is being spent in devastated towns where there have been major job losses? Are we doing everything we possibly can to ensure we do not have to give the money back and that everybody who is eligible for an intervention can access it?