Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps he has taken to ensure a full spend of capital funds provided to his Department in the 2018 Estimates and from the carryover of €7.7 million from 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8716/18]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry to have to criticise the Minister again but there was a massive underspend in his Department last year. A sum of €7 million that was not spent last year is being brought into this year and €19 million was given back to the Exchequer. Two months of this year have passed and no schemes have been announced. Nothing is happening. What plans does the Minister have to ensure he will spend the full capital allocation this year, rather than end up with the same situation as last year?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018 provide for gross expenditure of €231.5 million, comprising €144 million current expenditure and €87.5 million capital expenditure, in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development. An additional €7.7 million in capital funding is carried forward from 2017 to supplement capital spending.

My Department has been working closely with the local authorities to encourage progress on their projects and to communicate plans in respect of 2018 schemes in order to facilitate enhanced readiness for delivery.

My Department will continue to work with key stakeholders including local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and dedicated agencies to support job creation, attract tourism investment and contribute to sustainable economic development in rural Ireland. The Department will ensure that maximum use is obtained from the resources allocated and that  value for money is delivered in respect of the 2018 allocation.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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How much capital has the Department spent to date? Would it be €15 million? That is the pro rataspend that should have occurred at this stage, particularly since projects that were approved before the end of last year can be implemented this year. Can the Minister indicate whether the spend is on target or behind it at this point?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have that information to hand. I can give it to the Deputy before the committee meeting next week. We will be discussing our Vote at that meeting and I will have all that information. The Deputy referred to the underspend last year. I will not get into another political row but the Deputy understands underspends. During the good times there were major underspends in the Deputy's Department when he was in office. There was a €40 million underspend in 2010 and a €38 million underspend in 2008. I guarantee that there will be no underspend in my Department this year. I was in the Department for six months last year. I introduced the local improvement scheme and the schemes for the shows and the Tidy Towns. I introduced many other schemes. The underspend was €17.7 million. We were able to carry over €7.7 million so the underspend was only approximately €10 million. When the Deputy was the Minister in the Department in the good days, and it was a new Department, he had major underspends. He knows that underspends happen in Departments but I can give him a commitment that it will not happen this year.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I should point out that there were Exchequer cuts half way through the years the Minister referred to so we were not allowed to spend the money allocated to us. The first year of the downturn was 2008 and with regard to 2010, the Minister was constantly telling us how bad the economy he inherited was. He is getting that wrong again, like he gets most things wrong. How much capital was spent in January? I know the answer because I got it from the Exchequer returns. Can the Minister tell me how much money he spent in capital expenditure in January?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have that information.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have it here.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy has it I do not know why he is asking for it-----

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I wanted to check if the Minister knew-----

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----but I will get it for him.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----and if he does his homework.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Why is the Deputy wasting Question Time if he knows the answer? That is not the question tabled today but if he wants the information I will get it to him later. However, as I said, I guarantee that there will be no underspend this year. I will ensure the money is spent.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Questions Nos. 40 and 41 are in the name of Deputy McLoughlin who is not present and Question No. 42 is in the name of Deputy Connolly who is also not present.