As part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, a number of initiatives including CLÁR, the Rural Recreation Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) were launched by my Department during 2016. In general, these initiatives were implemented through the Local Authorities.
All funding was made available in line with the sanction received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and on the basis of funding agreements signed with the Local Authorities.
I am very conscious of the need to ensure that all funds allocated to the Local Authorities under these schemes are fully accounted for. In this context, my Department is working closely with the Local Authorities to ensure that all expenditure is in line with the Public Spending Code and that the funding is spent promptly and in accordance with the project proposals.
My officials are engaged in establishing the most up-to-date position with regard to project expenditure and work completed in respect of all of the schemes in question and I will be happy to update the Deputy when this information has been compiled. A programme of inspections will also be initiated on the basis of this information.
