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

When reading the briefing note last night in relation to the CSO, I noted that: "From 2017, the CSO received quarterly extracts of the Benefacts database at no charge, most recently in February 2022." The note went on to list the information supplied, the use of that, and the different headings and the variables. It is very detailed information. The briefing note also stated: "The Benefacts database has helped the CSO to fulfil important statistical reporting required under EU legislation..." and lists the various compilations. From the public point of view, I do not see the logic in the termination. I suggest that, along with writing back, we would note and publish the correspondence, and that we would also write to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to request sight of the Department's value for money review and business case for the Benefacts database, which they used to discuss its continued funding. In that correspondence we could point out that we have this information here from the CSO, which is just one body that would use the database, and highlight that it is an enormous benefit to the CSO.