Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today we are examining the historic and continuing role of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the oversight and implementation of projects under the national framework for capital investment and the national development plan. The focus of today's meeting is the Department's role in ensuring that value for money is achieved through the systematic appraisal and professional management of all capital projects. We also wish to explore the role of public officials on State boards. The matter for consideration today initially arose from our meeting with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. We will be engaging with that board again in the coming weeks. Ten major capital projects that are currently in various stages of development are listed before us. One of these is the national children's hospital. I want to put the €140 billion of expenditure under this plan in context. The children's hospital represents about 2% of that amount. The committee is concerned that the issues affecting that project will arise in other major projects. We wish to know what control mechanisms are in place to deal with that. We want to ensure that commitments given are delivered within cost and that value for money is achieved. We are here today to discuss not just one project, but several projects.

We are joined today by Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Mr. David O'Brien, principal officer at the Office of Government Procurement. Mr. O'Brien is also the chairman of the Government contracts committee for construction, is that correct?