Ms Katherine Licken:

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta agus iarrfaidh mé ar Aodhán Mac Cormaic caint leis an Teachta i gceann tamaill.

In regard to Údarás na Gaeltachta, the legislation is a direct flow from a programme for Government commitment in regard to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. In terms of the governance of all of the bodies, it is about having a framework in place. Governance is always about having structures in place that can prevent wrongdoing or mismanagement of funding from happening, that can identify it if it does happen, and that can rectify it and put in place new measures, so it is always evolving. We operate within the code of practice for the governance of State bodies of 2016 and within the framework legislation provided for Údarás and other bodies.

In regard to the underspends, 2020 and 2021 were very difficult years for the Department, as I said earlier. A lot of projects did not happen as fast as they might have done in ordinary times because-----