Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. He indicated that more than 880 projects have been approved for funding, 185 have been completed and €11.5 million has been partly drawn down from the fund. I presume the full €50 million will be spent given that it has been ring-fenced and earmarked. Based on the Minister of State's response, there is a hell of a lot of money in the pot. If it is not to be drawn down, I suggest we go back to the local authorities and see what is the reality of drawing down the funds. Some of projects are very simple, for example, multi-user sports facilities. All of them are critically important. I am glad the Minister of State clarified that these projects are for the benefit of broader society and the broader community.

We talk so much about central government devolving more powers, yet we have central government allocating €1,500 to a local authority for a local playground. That begs the question as to who should be doing this.

This programme is positive and I am particularly delighted the Minister of State touched on the point I made about health and education. That is what the Taoiseach has committed himself to. When one goes through each project funded under the scheme, one sees very few education or health interventions, which are critically important for the integration of people into our community. I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response.