It is now more than 900 days since Ireland's plan for the allocation of the EU's recovery fund was signed off. Mr. Chris MacManus, MEP, has been raising this issue continually since then. The EU informs us that €225 billion has been allocated so far. Yet, Ireland is one of only three countries not to have received a disbursement. This is a damning indictment of the Government failing to draw down what is our allocation. Why is there such a delay in applying? Is the Government confident at this stage that Ireland will even have time to draw down our funds by the deadline?

Yes, I am. Obviously the projects are in train. We will draw down the funding we were allocated in the Recovery and Resilience Facility.