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

Absolutely. That goes without saying. There are thousands of NGOs, some of which do good work. There are obviously always questions about certain things, and that is fair enough, but it is not clear in this letter.

Let us move on to No. 2455, which is from Deputy Verona Murphy and is dated 13 March. She forwarded correspondence seeking certain information in relation to the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann is not accountable to the committee. However, the Department of Education is, and the issue of school transport has been flagged as an area of interest for a meeting on 16 May, when it will be before the committee. I propose that we write to the Department of Education to seek an update on the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport, which was on value for money. It is proposed that we request information on the number of students, the total spend and the amount paid to Córas Iompair Éireann, CIÉ, ahead of the meeting on 16 May. Is that agreed? Agreed. I am not inclined to defer this issue because it will be before the committee on 16 May. I think the committee is agreeable and we should do that. We should leave it until then.

Let us move on to the work programme. Next week, on 18 April, we will meet with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to the 2022 appropriation accounts, which is Vote 40. International protection accommodation services have been flagged as an area of interest. I also propose that we flag the resourcing and staffing of Tusla as an area of interest. There was a big issue with that on the day representatives of Tusla were here. I also raise the issue of the Department's role and what can be done in relation to that.

On 25 April, we will meet with Inland Fisheries Ireland in relation to its 2022 financial statements. Members will recall that this meeting was rescheduled from 7 March. We will be joined by the deputy CEO, who has been delegated the functions of accountable person to the committee, because the CEO is on leave.

We will engage with the National Transport Authority on 2 May 2024 in relation to its 2022 financial statements. BusConnects, the purchase of buses by companies providing public transport and the provision of bus services have been flagged as areas of interest. On 9 May, we have agreed to meet with the Office of Public Works, OPW. Deputy Dillon was a member of the committee until yesterday, but he is now the Minister of State. I propose that we defer this meeting until 13 June and reschedule a meeting with the University of Limerick instead on 9 May. Is it agreed that representatives of the Higher Education Authority, as well as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, be invited to that meeting also?