Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has a point but this is the first year of the scheme and I have to give it an opportunity to work. Deputy Eugene Murphy is also in the House and we are all local Deputies. We are trying to bring power down to local level and to give local people the opportunity to make decisions. In the new community enhancement programme we have amalgamated the RAPID programme and communities facilities scheme so that decisions can be made at local level. In the LCDCs there are public elected representatives and members of different organisations and I hope they will identify the areas of most need. I appreciate what the Deputy is saying and I do not disagree with him. The public auditor will audit where the money goes and I want the money to go to the areas that need it most. I am giving it a chance but I will not be afraid to make a change.

When the value for money report on RAPID was done I was told I could not roll it out as it had been rolled out before. I tried this new scheme and I am giving it a chance but if I find the money is not targeted at where it should be targeted, I will have to look at it again.

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