Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004
136 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent and nature of expenditure in respect of schemes or projects funded by his Department to date in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22910/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe gross expenditure allocation for my Department in 2004 is approximately €298 million. As the Deputy will be aware, details of the allocations to individual programme areas are included in the Revised Estimates Volume 2004, which was published earlier in the year.
Expenditure up to 24 September 2004 across the three main programme areas, excluding administration, is €162 million, which can broadly be broken down as follows: an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht, €49 million; community affairs, €77 million; and rural affairs, €36 million. The Deputy will also be aware that expenditure within these programme areas takes place across a wide range of schemes and projects, descriptions of which are available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie.
It is the practice of both my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, and myself to make available on the Department's website details of all announcements relating to grant approvals and other expenditure-related decisions under these programmes.
Is the Minister satisfied that all is working out according to plan? One has to be very worried at the news today of the Government underspend which demonstrates a lack of planning and administration. The Opposition is worried that this money is being kept as a war chest for the next election rather than being provided for necessary funding today.
Hear, hear.
Is the Minister satisfied that community and other groups will be able to use the money available to them before the end of this year?
I assure the Deputy that there is no advantage for me in not spending the money, otherwise it reverts to the Exchequer. I will see to it, as far as I possibly can, that the Department spends every euro it receives, and not only the euro but also the cent. Last year, the Department was within €100,000 of a total spend and that is as good as one can hope for.
There are variables to be taken into account. It can sometimes be difficult to ascertain details of the spend at certain times of the year. For example, I have been asking local authorities to send in bills for the money spent to date this year to have some information on the work completed. It has been a tradition for local authorities to send in all the bills at the end of the year. I find it strange that they would not look for the money because my Department wants to give them the money and it makes budgeting more difficult. The Department has been in constant contact with local authorities, suggesting that they send in quarterly bills for the work done. It would provide the Department with a better fix on the work done and enable it to budget better.
As Minister, I keep a very close eye on the situation. I must ensure that I do not overspend. The Deputy can rest assured that my target is to hit it right on the button at the end of the year and to ensure that all the funds given to the Department are spent. It is difficult enough to acquire the funding and it is preferable to spend it.
