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

That correspondence has been issued and we will await a reply. There was a non-sitting week and we are a week behind in issuing correspondence due to a shortage of staff. There is a reduction in staff now, which is a matter for the secretariat to address. That has caused some delay. The correspondence was issued as early as possible. I would point out those two facts. A week is a week. Let us await the outcome. It is a matter we need to follow up and get a handle on. It is clear there are major issues involved. Substantial money has been spent and the fact we do not have anything to show for it, at least not that I am aware of unless somebody can correct me, is of major concern. Some €170,000 was spent on travel, substantial money was spent on wages and I understand €1.1 million was spent on promotion. We will see what happens with the response and we will come back to the issue.

The next correspondence is No. 648C from an individual dated 14 June 2021 concerning the Office of Public Works, OPW. The individual engaged with the previous Committee of Public Accounts and assisted in an examination of matters related to the OPW. The individual acknowledges the work of the committee in exposing issues at the OPW but states "the urgent need now is to redirect government and policy committees to commence a meaningful debate and recommendations to government in how public property is managed from an organisational perspective”. The individual understands this committee does not have a policy remit but it is open to the committee to bring this correspondence to the attention of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach, which has a policy oversight. We did a fairly substantial report on the OPW and members will recall we made recommendations in it. Deputy Munster flagged this issue. If other members wish to come in on it, they can feel free to do so. I do not know if Deputy MacSharry has joined us. He may wish to come in on this.