Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

My experience, based on being a Deputy and Senator, in regard to grants has shown me that the applications are looked at very professionally by civil servants, assessed and marks awarded based on their quality. In 2007 I had the experience where many clubs in Tipperary were getting grants, except for the one with which I was associated. One has to live with this and I have been present at constituency level meetings between organisations and the Minister, where people went away with the impression that their applications would be favourably looked at. When the decisions were announced, however, for objective reasons they unfortunately did not qualify.

We have seen many examples in the agricultural sphere, but I suppose it is true of all Government grants that they tend to get oversubscribed. I am around long enough to remember the home improvement scheme of 1985 and the successor Fianna Fáil Government was still paying out grants on that up to 1990. Every so often with such schemes, and particularly in economic circumstances such as we have at present, it is necessary to pause and consolidate, to deal with existing commitments and a Minister is not in a position to take on more. However, what the situation will be in 2010, as to whether new applications will be invited, I cannot pre-empt.

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