Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will ask for a note, but Caranua made it clear that it expects to have €2 million or €3 million extra at the end of its work that would allow it to reopen some of the old cases. A deadline for closing off cases was introduced. Some cases arrived after the deadline and they were not taken into account. Based on the average payments made to date, Caranua knows that if it pays what it has in its system, there will be a surplus and it might be able to look at some of the cases that arrived late. We will note and publish this and we will hold over a discussion on the document until next week if Deputy Connolly wants, particularly as it is Caranua. We will associate the other letter from the Department about the properties with it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2533B is from Mr. Gerard Dollard, CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board. He is providing a response on whether it is standard practice to perform post mortems on dogs that die on tracks. The board stated that it has not been standard practice, but it is its intention that it will be the practice in the future. The board has been dealing with the veterinary medicine department in UCD in Belfield and it is its intention to do that from now on. Is it agreed that we will note and publish this? Agreed.

No. 2534B is from Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We wrote to Mr. Watt asking for information on the full list of public bodies that are using the public services card and an information note outlining what stage the project is at. He referred us to the Government website which shows the public bodies that are currently using the card and the stages the project is at. There is also information on the website on whether the card is currently live or is planned for introduction in the near future. We also asked for a detailed implementation and costing plan and he said the Department does not have that; it is a matter for each implementing body. First, he referred us to a website and, second, he referred us to every other Department. We will note and publish that. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2540B is from the Courts Service and is dated 11 November. It provides a note on the recording of wards of court fees in the appropriation account. Can we agree to note and publish this item? We will discuss the matter later with the Courts Service. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We now move on to category C correspondence. No. 2517C is from Mr. Michael McGlynn, communications and research executive with Nursing Homes Ireland. Mr. McGlynn provides a statement issued to the media. The organisation has called on the committee to question the HSE and the Department of Health to achieve full disclosure regarding the costs to bring HSE nursing homes up to the required regulatory standards. We will note that question for the HSE, which will be here in three weeks' time. We will put that on the list and tell the HSE we are going to ask that question. I propose that we ask the HSE to provide an information note on that. We will note that. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2518C is from an individual. I propose to hold the discussion in private session because this is a letter I received following our meeting with Caranua. An individual whom I think was too late in applying for the first tranche of funds saw there might be funding available. I think a person had to get an award from the redress board before he or she could go to Caranua. I will hold this letter over for the private session because it contains personal information. We will come back to that in due course. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2520C is from an individual asking what the Committee of Public Accounts is going to do about Deputies' expenses. I understand that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is examining the matter of expenses. That is important. We will note this item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2535C is from an individual and is dated 6 November, requesting the committee to investigate expenditure management in Irish Water. Irish Water does not fall within the remit of the committee but it receives money from the Department. We will send the correspondence to the Department and ask it for a response in respect of its oversight and governance of Irish Water regarding the matters raised. The Department is a funding Department and it is answerable to the committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.