Is the Minister now assuring the House that the regional fund will be spent in the disadvantaged areas of this country?

That is a separate question.

It is not a separate question.

Well, it is actually.

The Minister has refused to reply to it because the Exchequer is taking money that should be spent on the western counties.

I have refrained from drawing too much attention to what is involved in this but, now that Deputy Begley has invited me to do so, I shall. The fact is that what I have announced is a method of demonstrating clearly what is being done by the regional fund and what is being done by the Government. I want to make it absolutely clear that my predecessor and his colleagues, including Deputy Begley, refused consistently to do that; they used the regional fund to cover up their deficiencies. Now, because I am curing that, Deputy Begley need not try to make a virtue of it. If there is any virtue in it the virtue lies on this side of the House, not over there.

Is the Minister saying to this side of the House that he will spend the money on the western counties? He still has not given that assurance to the House. He has gone back on his word; he should be consistent.

The Deputy is endeavouring to switch to another issue altogether—I understand why he wants to get away from this issue. This question deals with the manner in which the regional fund receipts will be presented. If Deputy Begley has some question to do with the areas in which the fund is expended, that is another matter, and he can of course, put down a question, when we will deal with it. But let us for the moment stick to the question put to me.

The Minister still has not given an assurance.

The Deputy should put down a question, when he will get all the assurance to which he is entitled.