There are no paragraphs for examination. I ask Mr. Purcell to introduce the accounts.

As you said, Acting Chairman, there are no paragraphs on Vote 42. Vote 42 covers a very wide area and I think it would be necessary to go through the accounts to do them justice, with the variety of activities, including matters relating to broadcasting, arts, culture, the Gaeltacht and heritage. I have nothing in particular to say on the accounts.

Mr. Furlong, do you have any comment?

If there are particular questions, I would be happy to answer them.

Will Mr. Furlong explain the estimate and outturn figures for housing grants under section D?

We spent £1.365 million against an Estimate provision of £1.5 million.

Why did the shortfall occur?

Perhaps one of the reasons for that would be that the rates of grant payable under the various schemes had fallen in value over the years. The Minister of State late last year announced significant increases in grant levels. That basically has already resulted in increased demands for grants under the scheme.

I refer to expenditure on roads. What is the criterion for the selection of roads?

It would be a strongly held view of the Minister of State that people living in Gaeltacht areas should be entitled to travel on roads of reasonable quality.

Aontaím leis sin.

It would be also important that the roads infrastructure should be of a standard sufficient to attract industrialists to locate in the area.

Is maith an freagra é sin.

Ultimately, it is to do with enabling people in Gaeltacht areas to have the facility of driving without difficulty from point a to point b.

I am all for that.

I hope that answers your question.

I am in the same constituency as the Minister of State.

The Acting Chairman is very satisfied. It might be an idea to request a breakdown of Gaeltacht road grants in different counties.

I refer to the shortfall in spending on the SAC schemes.

If the Deputy will forgive me, I am not too long in my post so I am taking a little time to feel my way around the detail of issues but, as I understand it, the problem arose in respect of difficulties related to the issue of turf cutting and compensation payments for SACs and delay in obtaining EU approval for the new REPS scheme. That accounts for the underspend in that year.

The Vote is noted. I thank, Mr. Furlong, and his officials.