Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

I thank the Chairman. As I understand it, most of the expenditure is current expenditure, so I do not believe that a significant number of capital assets are created as a result of this spend. The letter from the Department refers to an effectiveness review it plans to carry out, which is to look at what was delivered and the impact of that. There is an expectation that there would be what is referred to as some legacy benefits from the endeavour.

The company is not audited by me and, therefore, it is not, as I understand it, accountable to the committee, although the committee could, of course, invite it in. Perhaps the starting point should be to have a discussion with the Department on the 2020 appropriation account when it is due; it will have a large element of expenditure. The vehicle chosen to deliver this project, a special purpose vehicle, does not automatically fall within the remit of the committee.