Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All the money for schools and community safety, play areas, including the multi-use games areas, MUGAs, community well-being and support, first responders and the mobility and cancer care transport scheme was spent last year. Why must I and my officials write to local authorities to ask them to spend the money they have received? Why are elected representatives not up on their feet at every council meeting asking why money on approved projects is not being spent? I can only do so much and I seek the Deputy's support in this. I have secured the funding but whoever is here after the next election will have the same problem. Pressure is coming on me from the Department not to spend more, because councils have not yet spent what they have got. If I do not have a stream of spent money, we will have the same situation in a few years' time. I would love to put the money out into the private sector, if I could, but I cannot do that.

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