Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

Like Deputy Ring, I am interested in rural Ireland and the local and community initiatives that have been undertaken. My concern in this regard is that although expenditure will be decided in the context of the budget, the recommendations have been put into the public arena now. I have listened to the Minister say he has conducted reviews and so on. However, in the McCarthy report it is stated, "There is little evidence of positive outcomes for these initiatives." My concern is that the Minister of State and his line Minister did not put their case strongly enough to the group. Did they put any case at all, or was it the Department of Finance that did all the running? That matter must be cleared up.

We heard the Tánaiste, Deputy Coughlan, say there were many things in the McCarthy report with which she did not agree, and there are certainly many with which we on this side of the House do not agree. I am talking about reductions in the allocation not only for local community development programmes but also for many other programmes. In recommending a reduction in the allocation for the community services programme, the report states, "There is little information available on the outcomes achieved through the scheme." It seems the Ministers did absolutely nothing-----

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