Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)

The full breakdown of amounts of money spent on the business transformation programme is available in the back of the report done by the Secretary General. Ergo as a programme manager received sums of €393,000, €621,000, €163,000, €231,000, €128,000 and €558,000. Codec received €1,967,278. These figures have been circulated to members by way of the report done by the Secretary General. Obviously this will form part of what I have asked Professor Brennan to look at, in terms of where the money went and what we got for it. I know that last night the committee was examining the legal costs. Have we bottomed out the cost of this? I cannot say for definite that we have, to be quite honest about it. I do not know whether there will be other costs associated with it.

One of the options being pursued is the possibility of an off-the-shelf model. Why an off-the-shelf model was not pursued from day one I do not know. This convoluted and complicated one was the one that was proffered by the Arts Council and it has, as the Senator quite rightly says, cost the taxpayer almost €7 million. There is a suggestion another €1.5 million might buy us an off-the-shelf scheme, but I am not convinced of that.