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

I thank Ms Drinan. That is a clean bill of health for the education sector. Can we agree to note the listing of accounts and financial statements? Agreed. As usual, the listing of accounts and financial statements will be published as part of our minutes.

We now move to correspondence. As previously agreed, items that were not flagged for discussion for this meeting will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the proposed actions that have been circulated, and decisions taken by the committee in relation to correspondence are recorded in the minutes of the committee’s meetings and published on the committee’s web page.

The first category of correspondence under which members have flagged items for discussion is B, correspondence from Accounting Officers and-or Ministers and follow-up to committee meetings. First, No. 1933B, from Mr. Graham Doyle, Secretary General, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, dated 12 June, provides information requested by the committee arising from the meeting with the Department on 26 January. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. This relates to standardised designs and the cost of architects. We are starting from a blank canvas. The correspondence indicates there is some progress. There are 50 generic internal layout designs. That is welcome. The Department is seeing increased use of these in internal layouts. On the move to standardised design of houses, buildings or apartments overall, Mr. Doyle says they are increasing use of standardised designs internally. He says "the Department has recently concluded that consistency with the Design Manual and Employers Requirements should become mandatory for inclusion within briefing documents issued to Design Teams". That is welcome. We will ask Mr. Doyle to clarify for what percentage of social housing those internal designs are being used now. While welcoming the progress report, I propose we ask if there are developments towards moving towards standard design for the whole build, that is, external and internal. It is agreed, then, that we will request the information from Mr. Doyle and the Department.

No. 1938B, from the office of the Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, dated 16 June 2023, provides an update relating to Inland Fisheries Ireland's 2021 financial statements. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. The reply from the Department said Inland Fisheries Ireland's accounts are with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, for approval. Once approved they will go to the Government. The date of 6 July is noted and the accounts will be laid before that date. The accounts will be before the Cabinet next week, on Tuesday, and laid thereafter. That should comply with the timeline we seek. It is agreed to note and publish that item.

The next group is C - correspondence from and related to private individuals and any other correspondence. No. 1931C, dated 12 June 2023, is from Deputy Verona Murphy relating to the role and work of the Committee of Public Accounts the in examining capital expenditure. The Deputy has asked that we defer consideration of this correspondence to next week because of her absence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Next is No. 1942C from the clerk to the committee on remit oversight, dated 19 June, in response to our application to extend our committee's remit to facilitate the examination of public funds by Uisce Éireann. It is proposed to note and publish this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. I propose that we discuss this letter in private session, as we have to make some minor amendments to it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Next is No. 1944C from me, dated 20 June. It is a proposal that the committee write to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, NPHDB, and the Secretary General of the Department of Health seeking clarification around the remedial works required on the 11 operating theatres, when they became aware of the issue, the estimated cost, and whether it will delay the project. There was further correspondence on the matter this morning. It is dated 21 June. The letter states: "The NPHDB commenced a due diligence process in association with STS (adviser to Children's Health Ireland) and the Design Team in 2018" and goes on in that vein. It also states: "BAM is instructed to review what would be the impact of moving the grilles in each of the 11 Theatres, this is ongoing." With the support of the committee, I propose that we look for the outcome of that review. We might also ask what the cost is. The letter states: "To date none of the operating theatres have been offered by BAM as complete for inspection by the Design team or commissioning. There is significant work to be completed in these rooms." Later, it states: "The cost implication will be determined as part of this process". I suggest that, when the figure is determined, we be notified of the cost of the alterations to the 11 theatres and we ask the board why this matter was not acted on in May 2022 when it was first discovered. Those are my four questions. If the committee is agreeable, we will look for that information from the Department and the board.