asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry why there was a shortfall of £1.89 million in the take-up of the capital allocation estimated in the Public Capital Programme 1980; the areas which failed to utilise the capital provided for them in last year's budget; the reasons why and how it is proposed to expend this year the estimated capital sum of £11.95 million proposed for Bord Iascaigh Mhara for each county.

The actual shortfall in 1980 was £1.79 million which arose mainly in the area of loans for secondhand vessels. The delivery of some new vessels was delayed with consequent delay in the sale of the secondhand vessels in question while some owners decided not to sell their existing vessels on taking delivery of new vessels.

Of the £11.95 million available for 1981, £7.417 million has been earmarked for specific projects in particular counties as follows:

The balance of £4.533 million has not yet been earmarked for specific projects.

Is there any danger that the Department would simply hold on to that in the hope that at the end of the year they will show, as they did this year, a shortfall in the expenditure in the moneys voted to them?

I do not think there is any likelihood of that happening.