Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will revert to the matter of assets in a later question. Given the Leader programme's value of €425 million, has the Minister conducted a value for money audit of the previous Leader programme to determine whether we learned from any mistakes and whether funds were spent wisely? I hope that such an audit was conducted and that the Minister learned from it. He was correct when he stated that we need the money now more than ever. We must encourage people, particularly those in rural areas, to set up companies that offer employment and to aid them with grants. No public money should be wasted, given its new value in these times.

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