There was a little extra latitude because Deputy Kelly was not here.

The Minister of State is over time.

I thank the Minister of State and ask for co-operation so we can get as many Deputies in as possible.

I know there is no provision for the grouping of questions but this is the exact same question. I ask the Minister about the development of a State-led rural development programme to bridge the gap. To save time, she might depart from her script because she has read it. I have three specific questions on that. Funding has not been provided for new LEADER projects in 2021. Funding has not been identified for the delivery and administration of the LEADER programme for 2021. There is no interim national rural developm…

I thank the Minister. I understand that there is a delay because of the CAP negotiations, but if we look back to questions asked by Deputies previously, culminating in Deputy Martin Browne's yesterday, going back to December 2019 when the Minister was on notice that there would be a transitional phase, almost a full year has passed and a transition plan has not been published. That is the first point.

The Minister says there is no particular panic on the ground but 35 rural local development companies are asking all of us Deputies for certainty in respect of what the €44 million applies to. Does it apply to new projects? How much will be used up on the projects that were already committed to by the end of this year? The Minister has confirmed it will apply to administration costs. That is welcome. We are getting some certainty now and I welcome that. I draw the Acting Chairman's attention to the time. He is givi…

That is true but I try.

I have ten seconds because I have drawn the Acting Chairman's attention to the clock.

The Minister's choice of words were unfortunate when she said there was no particular panic at the moment. There may well be no panic but there is a lot of uncertainty that needs clarification-----

I am telling the Minister there is uncertainty because that is what we are being told by FORUM Connemara.

Yes, please.

Good.

Good.

I am delighted but perhaps the communication should have happened beforehand. I am delighted the Minister is now offering certainty and that the plan will be published in the next few weeks. We can hold the Minister to that before Christmas. The Irish Local Development Network is pointing out the uncertainty on the ground, as is Forum Connemara. We all recognise the work being done on the ground. I was sparing the Minister from having to read out the information in this regard because I have read all the detailed r…

Deputy Thomas Gould was in possession. The Deputy has four minutes.

Deputies Michael Moynihan and O'Dowd are sharing time.

It is very much on topic as well.

I am not sure if Deputies are paying attention, but we are moving through this debate pretty quickly and there are lots of slots not being taken. I say this in case people are missing their slots.

For the benefit of Deputies waiting to speak, the next slot is for the Rural Independent Group, after which we will proceed to a Government slot and then to Sinn Féin. The debate has moved quickly and some of the slots have not been filled. I said the Regional Group by mistake. It comes after that. We are moving on to the Government slot. Deputies Ó Cuív and Kieran O'Donnell are in that slot.

I beg the Deputy's pardon. It is to run today; it is not necessarily to finish.