The Irish government has come under criticism for its investment in rural development after large underspend was revealed on a number of capital-funded schemes.

Figures show only 3% of the €21 million allocated for the 2018 Town and Village scheme has been spent so far this year, while a fifth of the 2017 budget is still unspent.

Other large underspends include a quarter of the 2018 CLÁR budget, 76% of the total €250m 2014-2020 LEADER funding and 3% of the €52m allocated to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund this year.

Fianna Fáil's Deputy Leader, Dara Calleary TD has slammed the government for taking a "blinkered approach" to large underspend.

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"Reading the recent progress report on the Action Plan for Rural Development, one would think that all is rosy in rural Ireland," Deputy Calleary said.

"While funding may have been approved for LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and CLÁR, the large underspend is an indictment of the maladministration by the current government.

"These massive underspends are the hallmark of Fine Gael in government. It clearly evidences to a major dereliction of duty in delivering for rural Ireland. Furthermore, PQ replies released to me also show that almost 80% of the Department's €138 million capital budget for 2019 remains unspent halfway through this year.

"Minister Ring is very quick to talk up 'approved funding' but that is no good if there no delivery of capital funds to important projects in rural parishes. The hubris from the Minister and his ministerial colleagues to any facts based criticism shows how out of touch they have become."

(CM/MH)