Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I believe these arrangements demonstrate the Government's commitment to a structured, transparent and effective board.

Transparency in decision-making on disbursements from the fund is critically important. Concerns have been raised as to the extent to which the changes in this regard may adversely affect the focus and impact of spending from the fund. Recognising this, the Government has provided for a range of measures in the Bill to secure transparency and accessibility. As already indicated, the existing objectives of disbursements from the fund and the current plan are being retained. This ensures the focus of the spend. However, two critical further measures are provided for in the Bill — a new requirement to publicise and invite applications for funding and a further requirement to publish lists of all successful applications and the amounts involved.

In practice, this means that each year, following broad Government approval of programmes and types of projects for funding, applications will be publicly invited for eligible programmes or projects. Following evaluation of such applications by, or on behalf of, public bodies, the Government will approve a range of specific measures and projects.