€58.4m in funds not spent despite jobless blackspots

CONCERN was expressed last night after it emerged that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had failed to spend €58.4 million of its 2003 budgetary allocation despite there being “unemployment blackspots” throughout the country.

Members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) demanded to know why significant sums earmarked for promoting jobs and training had not been fully spent.

Enterprise Ireland - an arm of the department responsible for promoting industry - was given €62.9 million to distribute to businesses in the form of grants. But some €13.5m of it was not distributed, and was instead returned to the department.