Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Under the Leader programme there is a provision whereby a Leader company cannot provide money to itself for building but can provide to other companies. I assure the Deputy that where there are assets belonging to the State everything in our power is done to protect those assets. If it happens, for example, that a Leader company gives a grant to a private individual for an asset such as a community hall, that is perfectly all right. As the Deputy knows, if the person sells the community hall he or she must repay some of the grant, depending on how long it had been held. On the other hand, if the private individual continues to use the place as a community hall or if he or she has a little enterprise he or she then owns the asset. As long as the grant is used for the purpose given the individual has outright ownership of it.

With regard to the asset the Deputy mentioned I cannot judge how it was given and what were the contractual arrangements. I do not have the details here. However, if there are issues of concern about which the Deputy believes I am not aware, if he gives them to us on a confidential basis we will appreciate that and will follow it up.

I wish to put on record that I would be as concerned as the Deputy that every contractual obligation be fulfilled, whoever it may be who gets a grant or any other funding from the State. We are pursuing this with vigour. I know the Deputy is concerned but I am equally so.

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