Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a matter that I have followed up and raised repeatedly. Certainly, if representatives of the Department are appearing before the committee to answer questions, I would like to ask some questions. This would have gone completely under the carpet only for the Committee of Public Accounts and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That report set out the total cost of the redress board, the commission of inquiry and so on.

I zoned in on one building in Galway, which has remained empty since 2009. It was offered in 2009. I see from the latest clarification that the Government considered offers in 2011. It went from 2009 to 2011. The Government considered it again in July 2013. At that point, the Department took over. That is only one example. That building has remained empty all this time. It has an upsetting history, which I know intimately. The council in Galway called by motion for the building to be given over but it was refused. Rather than give it over and be used, it remained empty.

I am keen to go through all these buildings to discern precisely the position. First, this is a waste of money. Second, the deterioration in the building from that time is remarkable. That is only one example. It has now been handed over with a contribution of €750,000. That has been hailed as a donation to the city. In reality, it is part of a redress scheme. Certainly, it is the second part of the voluntary redress scheme.

I am dwelling on the matter because it has taken this much time to highlight the matter. At the same time, a different narrative was being shared with the people of Galway in respect of the matter. There are all sorts of narratives going on, but really the only narrative is that this building has been scandalously empty. The money that has now been handed over will not even come close to dealing with the deterioration of the building. Perhaps 15 minutes is not enough but certainly I welcome the opportunity to put questions.