Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister of State goes back to the Department she should ask the officials whether the previous Government spent the money, and if that was done in an open, fair and transparent way, and to the benefit of people. I will mention two programmes which the Minister of State could institute immediately. One is to give the money to the RAPID area implementation team, which would ensure there is no ministerial interference, to fund small projects in communities in the most deprived areas. The sum of €100,000 could be allocated between the 41 communities. The second programme we operated was a scheme which provided matching finance to either philanthropic or community funds, in particular to disability organisations for capital projects. That resulted in the provision of many very good facilities for people with disabilities. Would the Minister of State consider opening the fund for that purpose?

I know the challenges involved in the operation of the fund. They do not justify sitting on €142 million. The statutory reserve more than covers the risk of anyone who comes looking for his or her money. The Minister of State has still not explained why we are sitting on €142 million that could do so much for ordinary people around the country who suffer social and economic disadvantage, educational disadvantage and those in the disability sector.

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