Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is a payment for next year. We often receive requests for this to be forward paid. The budget across my Department is significant and we try to manage it as tightly as possible, but as situations can evolve over the course of the year some departments will spend more and others will spend less. Where there is capacity at the end of a year to forward-pay, it makes sense to do so. This means we have met a commitment due and budgeted for in a previous budget and it gives capacity to as strong as possible support for the sector next year.