Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, and we will forward the reply we received from the National Women's Council to the person who contacted us on the matter in the first instance.

No. 1064 is from Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, regarding issues raised by the committee relating to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and possible safety issues at St. Conleth’s College. I thank Mr. Ó Foghlú for a very comprehensive note. It appears that the matter is getting serious attention from the Department. We will note that and forward it to the person who wrote to us in the first place.

We have also received correspondence, No. 1057C, from an individual and I have asked the clerk not to circulate it. It is a copy of correspondence that was sent to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, claiming mistreatment by Electric Ireland. It is not directed to us. The item contains a considerable amount of personal and private information and is not a matter within our remit. It is not personal or private for the Minister but for the individual concerned. Can I get the committee’s agreement that we do not circulate the item and take no further action? If any member wishes to examine the item, they should contact the clerk. However, it is not a matter for the committee so we will not circulate or publish it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is statements and accounts received since the last meeting. It is a long list of 36 in all. They are the Royal Irish Academy of Music - clear audit opinion; Institute of Technology Blanchardstown - clear audit opinion except for the normal comment relating to future pension benefits; and clear audit opinions from Limerick Greyhound Racing Track Limited; Shelbourne Greyhound Stadium; Youghal Greyhound Racing Company; Waterford Greyhound Race Company; Abargrove Limited, which is Bord na gCon's food and beverages operation; Kingdom Greyhound Racing Company for the two years 2015 and 2016; and Clonmel Greyhound Race Company. The accounts for Dublin Greyhound and Sports Association are for the two years, 2015 and 2016. In the 2016 account, attention is drawn to the disclosure in the financial statements that the company has ceased trading and the financial statements are prepared on a non-going concern basis. The directors are engaged in a process of selling Harold’s Cross stadium to the Department of Education and Skills. The sales proceeds are expected to exceed the net liabilities of the company. We were told earlier that the Valuation Office will be involved in setting the fair value of the transfer, not independent auctioneers. The Valuation Office has a role in valuing property transfers from one Government organisation to another.

There was a clear audit opinion in the following sets of accounts: Cork Greyhound Race Company; Galway Greyhound Stadium; Commission for Railway Regulation; National Economic and Social Development Office; Tote Ireland, which is the Horse Racing Ireland totaliser operation; Cork Racecourse; Fairyhouse Club; HRI Racecourses, which is the holding company and does not trade; Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, which promotes Irish horse breeding; Leopardstown Club; Navan Races; Tipperary Race Company; Tote Arena; Irish Water Safety; Charities Regulatory Authority; and Charity Funds, which are the funds of charities held in trust by the Charities Regulator. The fund is valued at €3.7 million. They are all clear audited opinions and there is a great deal from the horse and greyhound industry.