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

The Minister for Rural and Community Development was Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs last year and had responsibility for the same functions. The money was not spent last year and he had to pre-fund local authorities to the tune of €28 million.

As I said in the preamble to the question, only 60% of that has been spent to date and the 40% of last year's money which has not been spent amounts to €11 million. On top of that, it is likely that out of this year's allocation, despite the smart-alec remarks, he will underspend by over €30 million on the capital side of his Department. I am asking if his inability to spend the money is sufficient reason for the Minister for Finance, rather than saying he can carry forward 10%, to give a pre-funding arrangement to local authorities which we know they have already abused this year and will likely abuse again next year.

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