Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is okay. I will give him ten minutes if he wants. I have no problem with that at all. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle can give him as long as he wants to give him. The Deputy knows better than anybody else that people make applications to Leader companies, which approve them. They then come to my Department where they submit receipts and bring in the paperwork. I cannot do any more than I have done with the Leader programme. I have made 31 changes to make it easier for people to make applications to the Leader programme. I met the groups, have listened to people on the ground and want to see this money being spent. Some 63% of this is coming from Europe with 37% coming from the national Government. I want to see this funding spend but I cannot do the jobs of the Leader companies. Deputy Ó Cuív should check his own county, Galway. It has two Leader companies. They have not approved one project and they have no applications here. I can only make the payments as the applications come in to me. I have done everything I can to make it easier for this funding to be drawn down.

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