Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

The Minister said that local authorities had drawn down only €3 million out of €15 million provided. He now says he has another €50 million. It is ludicrous to blame the local authorities for this.

The Minister has spoken rubbish because he has not a single proposal to put to any local authority. Yet he now proposes to give powers to the county managers to implement waste management plans that have been agreed and adopted by the regional authorities. That is being done. The county managers cannot be persuaded to spend any more than €3 million, yet they will be given more powers. Are they getting more power to do as they say or as they are instructed?