Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Can I finish this issue, with the indulgence of the Acting Chairman? Ms McGrath referred to driving efficiency in the State's footprint. I want to draw her attention to a specific issue, which may have been flagged with her in advance. The OPW, in conjunction with Cork County Council, for the decentralisation programme went about the purchase of a site in Kanturk for a decentralised Government Department. Cork County Council feels particularly aggrieved about the process. It acted in good faith on behalf of the OPW and was hung out to dry when the Government pulled the plug on the decentralisation project. It was left paying for lands when it had acted in good faith. It also acted in the public interest, but was left holding a bill of €166,000 which the OPW claims it is not contractually bound to repay. Do the witnesses have any views on that?