Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with anything the Senator says, and I am not just saying that. I will give you two figures, which are really upsetting. Sixty-three projects have been approved to date, with €1,116,000 delivered. Whatever funding we have now - we have the funding, and I cannot go back on the funding we have - I want to see it spent. Senator Conway-Walsh is quite correct. I want to see the programme rolled out and I want to simplify it as much as I can. I will be monitoring this but I have no direct control over the applications and so on. Regarding the way it is administered, I have a responsibility to Government and to Europe but, at the same time, I want to see the money spent.