Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on expenditure in his Department up until the end of quarter 1 of 2019 with regard to 2017 and 2018 allocation made for schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22888/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has made significant investment into communities and rural areas throughout Ireland since 2017 through the schemes referred to by the Deputy.

In general, the level of allocations and expenditure under these schemes has increased year on year, and I am satisfied that good progress is being made in the delivery of projects across these programmes.

In many cases, projects funded under the programmes in question can take 12 to 18 months to complete and payments are made only when significant milestones are met.  In some instances, projects must be fully completed before payments will be made.

I monitor expenditure on all my Department's programmes on an on-going basis to ensure that my Department's budget is used as effectively as possible.

My Department's overall budget for 2018 was €238.5 million and expenditure was €238.8 million.  This represents a spend of 99.3% of the available allocation.  The shortfall related mostly to administrative savings within my Department's Vote.