Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of time so I will be brief. I acknowledge our witnesses and thank them for their opening statements and their ongoing work in delivering major capital projects. As many present have said, they are critical to the fabric of our education system. We have to acknowledge all they have done and what they continue to do.

On the metrics the Department uses, how does the building and planning unit evaluate itself in the context of performance? In one way, performance is measured by delivery. I would like to get an understanding of the unit's delivery. What is the unit evaluating itself against? Is it time, quality or the number of projects that are delivered on an annual basis? In terms of live projects and those planned for the future, how many are currently live within the additional school accommodation scheme, the large-scale scheme and any other scheme the witnesses may be able to mention?

Is there a feedback process from the key stakeholders, be it principals, education and training boards, ETBs, or other education institutions? I would like to get an understanding of that.

On local issues, I am working with Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB, MSLEBT, in relation to my former school, namely, Davitt College, which is a major capital project. At the minute, there are more than 100 students being bussed 400 yd to temporary accommodation because of the lack of additional accommodation. Anyone who sees that happening is scratching their head because how, in this day in age, can something like this happen? There have been major delays in the delivery of modular units. The original design was for temporary modular until a permanent structure was built. What is the status of the permanent structure build?

I have one concern on the feedback on parliamentary questions we submit as Members of this House. I have written to the Department’s Secretary General on the failure to address parliamentary questions within the planning and building unit and the lack of transparency on the questions we ask on specific projects. I ask that the committee follows up on that. It is frustrating when boards of management and school principals are looking for engagement with political representatives and the responses are basically a set template with a one-liner or two-liner on the status of the project. It is basically a regurgitation of the questions we asked in a different format. I ask that more effort be put into the responses to parliamentary questions.