Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCarthy for that. Is it agreed that we will add CIT to the work programme for further on in the year, perhaps autumn? Agreed. That concludes our consideration of correspondence.

The fourth item on our agenda is the work programme. As agreed last week, we will engage with the Department of Transport this coming Thursday on its 2019 appropriation accounts. Items flagged for discussion include expenditure on BusConnects, the driving licence process and the delays currently associated with it, the western rail corridor and helicopter search and rescue contracts. With regard to the search and rescue contract, we received correspondence from Senator Craughwell and agreed to forward it to the Department of Transport for response. I understand that a response has been received from the Department and this will be circulated to the committee before Thursday’s meeting.

On 3 June, we will engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We will resume our examination of the Department’s 2019 appropriation accounts. Specific areas flagged with the Department are expenditure and value for money in respect of the rental accommodation scheme, the housing assistance payment, HAP, the repair and leasing scheme, the enhanced long-term social housing leasing scheme and emergency accommodation. We also have a stand-alone meeting on our work programme with regard to emergency accommodation but it has been flagged to the Department as an area of interest to the committee for next week’s meeting as well. I know that some members wanted a more detailed examination but it may be useful to open up an initial conversation on the matter.

A meeting with the University of Limerick is provisionally scheduled for 17 June and a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs for 24 June. By July the HSE’s 2020 accounts should be available to the committee and we have agreed to schedule a meeting with the HSE on 1 July. Do any members wish to comment? Deputy Colm Burke has indicated.