Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for trying to clarify the situation. I have read the action plan but I am not any wiser about Galway city and county. The Minister of State is telling me it will take a further Vote. I do not know what projects are earmarked for Galway city and county. There was more than a discussion with the Comptroller and Auditor General. He pointed out that over the period 2012-16, Departments spent €28.7 million, less than half of the amount provided in the Estimates, mainly due to a lack of preparedness. The Minister of State will agree we have a serious problem. Money is available but less than half of it has been spent. I wrote to the Minister of State in my capacity as a Deputy about a particular organisation in Galway, which I will not mention. Clearly, community groups and organisations are crying out for money but we have a 50% underspend. It took a very long time to conduct the recognised statutory review and it took a long time to publish the action plan but I am still no wiser as to what projects are earmarked for Galway city and county. Will the Minister of State try to spell them out for me? He stated some of them are national projects that will have a positive impact on Galway. What are the projects for Galway city? If there is none, tell me so.

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