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

I propose that we agree to publish the letter without the amount. Is everybody happy? That is good.

The next item is correspondence from and related to private individuals and any other correspondence. The first such item is No. 1263 C, dated 24 May. It is from an individual who has corresponded with the committee regarding social welfare appeals. The correspondent asks if the committee has found evidence of test cases being used by the social welfare appeals office and the Department. It is proposed to provide the correspondent with a copy of our report on the examination of the 2019 Appropriation Account for Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners. That report records our position on the matter arising from the evidence that was presented to us. Is that agreed? Agreed. In the report it is set out clearly that there was evidence of test cases being used at some level.

It is to be hoped that will clarify the matter for the respondent. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1261 is from Atheist Ireland, dated 24 May 2022. On receipt of previous correspondence from Atheist Ireland concerning the constitutional provisions regarding education, the committee sought responses from the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. The Department advised that it intended to meet with Atheist Ireland to discuss the issues and we forwarded the responses from it and the NCCA. The meeting has now taken place and Atheist Ireland states that the Department has undertaken to reflect on the views of Atheist Ireland and acknowledges that the Department is acting in good faith. That is good. Essentially, Atheist Ireland takes issue with the Department of Education’s funding of schools that, in its view, do not abide by the constitutional conditions for that funding. Atheist Ireland requests that the committee examine the matter. It is clear there is ongoing engagement between the Department and Atheist Ireland. It is also clear that the matter turns on constitutional interpretation and it is not the role of the committee to adjudicate on that interpretation. The policy that flows from such interpretation is not a matter for the committee either and would be more appropriate to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It is proposed to advise Atheist Ireland accordingly. Does any member wish to address this item of correspondence? Members are happy enough with it.

I will move on to the work programme. As next week is a non-sitting week, our next meeting will be on 16 June, when we will engage with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. I hope we will have some of those answers before then.

On 23 June, we will engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine its oversight of local government expenditure of central government funds. The Department has confirmed availability for the meeting and the Association of Irish Local Government has indicated it will nominate representatives to attend.

We had planned to engage with An Bord Pleanála on 30 June but its representatives are not available until 14 July, which is the last scheduled sitting for this term. Is it agreed to schedule the meeting for 14 July? Agreed. A representative from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will also be in attendance. In terms of the agenda, An Bord Pleanála’s 2020 financial statements are available to us to examine. Are there any other specific areas of interest that members wish to put on the agenda?