Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Cheap mé go raibh muid ag déanamh dul chun cinn maidir le cothromaíocht inscne. An tseachtain seo caite, ghabh mé mo bhuíochas as an gcothromaíocht inscne a bhí i gceist ach táimid ar ais arís. Níl an locht ar na finnéithe ach ní féidir gan rud a rá. Last week, I welcomed the gender equality. It was wonderful. We had finally got all women. Now we are back to all men, with one woman behind who I welcome. I could not let it go without making a comment on it. It is startling.

I found this fascinating reading, and a good news story with a significant amount of money available for disbursement. I am not sure how it has become a bad news story.

The amount transferred to the fund between 2003 and 2016 - it is presumably more since - was €842 million, some of which is for disbursement. It is a wonderful good news story. The net transfers were €549 million and we are averaging a payout every year of €27 million.

First, let me get some critical points correct. Each Department is faced with a dilemma because Departments do not get this money upfront and the Department of Community and Rural Development must take the money out of its Vote. Is that correct?