John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will now have to bring in WIT, the HEA and the Department to deal with the issues that have been raised as part of this correspondence and in the audit certificate of the Comptroller and Auditor General. This project would now be finished at a cost of €9.7 million had the project not been stopped. It will now cost €14 million and funding of €7.5 million is now required. On the last day the Department was here I think indications were given that the figure would be approximately €4 million. There is a significant difference between the figures that we received at that time and the figures that are being suggested in the correspondence received from Mr. McKenna. This is not just general correspondence. It is backed up by internal correspondence between banks and various parts of the college working out how this project was to be stopped at that time, the warnings that were given and the fact that the costs would be far greater at the end of the day to complete the project. I understand that the project has still not been completed and to do so will require considerable funding. We will come to this matter again in the context of our work programme but the HEA, with the Department and WIT, will have to be brought in to discuss this issue and other issues arising from what is happening in WIT. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence has been received from Mr. Jamie Bryson re a request for written evidence. We have already dealt with this matter. Correspondence dated 15 October 2015 has been received from Ms Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority re bus rapid transit proposals, to be noted, published and forwarded to Mr. Thomas McKeon. Correspondence dated 20 October 2015 has been received from the HSE re prescribed drugs and the issue of branded products and inter-changeability, to be noted and forwarded to Mr. Joseph Haire. We are dealing with issues relating to drugs payments today and members can also raise this matter.

Correspondence dated 20 October 2015 has been received from the HSE re North Meath Community Development Association, to be noted and forwarded to Mr. Ronnie Owens. Members can raise this matter with the HSE today. There was further correspondence on this matter issued to members, I think overnight, by e-mail from Mr. Owens. I just happened to see it. He has asked us to urgently address the fact that the HSE had an issue with, I think, arbitration and to tease this matter out with it today, if we can.

Correspondence has been received from Ms Catherine Cox, the Carers Association, re insufficient funding and poor management in services for children with disabilities, to be noted and published. This matter can be raised today with the HSE and we have put them on notice of same.

No. 3C is documents relating to today's meeting. No. 3C.1 to 3C.4 are briefing documents and opening statement for today's meeting. All to be noted and published.

The next item is reports, statements and accounts received since our meeting of 8 October. I ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to comment, if he has a comment on any of them.