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

At the end of the meeting with NAMA I gave the representatives a list of queries about Project Jewel. Deputy Deasy attended that meeting.

We toured the site and saw it at first hand. I asked NAMA to answer the questions submitted to us by representatives of families but it did not do so, except to say that the site is sold. Some of the questions relate to the attitude of NAMA towards this group in the period leading up to the sale. I want to get the answers to those questions. I ask the clerk to the committee to remind NAMA that this information is outstanding and that it should submit its response to the committee. While some of the questions do not necessarily apply now because the property is sold, an explanation as to what happened beforehand is required.

On the subject of housing, the completion of the Tipperary hostel and the State money spent on it comes up here time and time again. In the context of the provision of accommodation, given the current demand, it would be no harm if someone would look at it. It may provide an opportunity for the State to intervene, fund its completion and put the property to an appropriate use. I ask the clerk to write to the Department and ask it to review that property in that context, thereby saving some of the taxpayers' money that has already been spent on that building and preventing its further dilapidation.