Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. We are going to write to the Department to clarify this point. Members can see that it is an ongoing issue. It has been before this committee for a couple of years. It was before the last Committee of Public Accounts as well. We will note the correspondence. We will not publish it because it is from a private individual. We will ask the Department to respond. I think that under GDPR, we have to get permission from the person if we want to contact the Department on his behalf.

Next is No. 2435, from the Irish Thalidomide Association, dated 30 September 2019. It relates to communication with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability services. The association is looking for all-party support for a number of issues, including the lifting of the limitation period in the context of all thalidomide survivors, an acknowledgement of wrongdoing by the State and recompense for survivors. While we are all sympathetic and we all support the principle the association is talking about, it is not a matter with which the Committee of Public Accounts can deal specifically. It has been referred to the Taoiseach, the Minister and the Minister of State for them to deal with it. I suggest that we note this correspondence. This is really a matter to be dealt with in the Chamber. Members can show their support for this cause by asking parliamentary questions and raising it in the Chamber, but the Committee of Public Accounts cannot take it on. Any change in the legislation in this area is a policy issue. Any time limitations on the taking of cases are policy issues. We will note the correspondence. I ask members to support it as best they can and in a manner they deem appropriate.

Next is No. 2438, dated 7 October 2019, from an individual who represents a group that is raising the alleged misuse of resource allocations in schools. The correspondence refers particularly to resources for students with special needs. It lists a number of findings and recommendations in relation to whole-school evaluations. It suggests that the Department of Education and Skills has failed to deal with the educational matters raised. In my view, this is a matter of public funds allocated for special education purposes. It is alleged in the letter that funds are being used for school administration and other purposes. If this means that money being allocated for special needs purposes is not being used for those purposes, the Committee of Public Accounts will want to know why funding being allocated to a vulnerable group is possibly being used for other purposes in the school. I do not know whether it is. I met the correspondent in person outside a committee meeting a couple of weeks ago. He asked this committee to examine what he considers is the misuse of public funds in this case.