Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Aylward. We have concluded our discussion relating to a number of Votes, chapters and Comptroller and Auditor General special reports. We have done quite a bit this morning, although some of this has been before us, off and on, previously. Before concluding I thank witnesses from the Department of Public Expenditure for their attendance and the material they will send to us shortly.

Witnesses will be aware that the committee will examine procurement across the board and the topic will be before us all the time. We have said we will consider public private partnerships as part of our work programme for this year. We have been getting some information but we have not yet considered how good it is. It is an ongoing topic on our agenda. Recently, we were sent the official minutes of the response to our earlier periodic report. We have not yet had the opportunity to examine those. Depending on the content of those reports, we may have to respond on some matters. We will deal with those matters as they arise. I am alerting the witnesses that some matters cutting across their Department will be discussed in the time ahead. I thank all the witnesses for their attendance. In the afternoon we will meet representatives of the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority.