Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

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.