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

Not only was some €30 million not spent last year, but it has not been spent this year. I have also been told by the Department that it has no record of any of the huge amount of moneys given to local authorities for work not done, some of it sanctioned by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, in December. As well as that, will the Minister confirm there has been zero spend on the 2014 to 2020 Leader programme, except for administration? The reality is there is €40 million available for Leader. Even allowing €8 million for administration, €32 million is still there for capital spend. It is patently obvious that in the beginning of March this year the Department will not spend half this capital allowance on Leader. Is the Minister making alternative plans already? I will be asking the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, on the moneys which will not be spent in his section of the Department. Is the Minister making alternative plans to spend the Leader moneys that will not be spent or will she once again short-change the people dependent on her Department at the end of the year by having another carryover into 2018?

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