Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It seems there was a big problem from the outset given that 31 changes were required to make the scheme easier to access. We all know it is European funding and that there is a culture of ten people checking the work that has been done rather than ten people doing work. That is one of the problems, namely, that there is so much bureaucracy, boxes to be ticked and nonsense attached to much of the funding. I worked in the sector for years and I know the kind of stupidity that goes on, for example, photocopying something ten times and sending it off and then getting it back and photocopying it again. There is a culture of creating paperwork rather than going out and spending the blinking money on the ground where it needs to be spent.

I appreciate that the Minister brought in the Leader companies and that he tried to get the changes made. Perhaps there are no more changes to be made but since the local authorities were given a role in the process the system has gone askew. That must be recognised.

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