Ms Caroline Timmons:

I will come back on a couple of points. I assume we are trying to cover everything. I first recognise the collaborative approach of the committee that has been expressed here. As a Department, we appreciate that everyone is looking to work with us going forward. That is obviously how we envisage our relationship with the CCMA, the programme board and the NTACC. I certainly see potential advantages to working together on the issues. I recognise that and it is positive. The issue was raised of how to tackle resistance on site. I will let my colleague, the chief executive from Fingal deal with that.

I will mention Spring Lane and talk a little about that and give an update if that is okay. The Department attends meetings with Cork City Council each month. The issues there were so serious in the first instance, that we understand why the report was done by the Ombudsman. It was positive to see the most recent report of the Ombudsman recognising that a lot of progress has been made in Spring Lane. To highlight that, we have approved €12.68 million in funding for the redevelopment of Spring Lane in Cork. That will be for redevelopment of the halting site with 12 three-bed units in bays, and a new group housing scheme of 15 detached residential units in Ellis's Yard. That is the adjoining land. The contractors are due on the site to carry out site investigation works in September. Recognition that living conditions for the children on site have been improved is welcome. It shows that the local authority and residents are working well together, so maybe we can recognise the significant progress they have been able to make.

We have already allowed drawdown of almost €1 million for work that has been done on site to date. That includes health and safety works, school walkway and welfare units. A further €1.5 million has been sought from us to do more welfare units and civil works in the meantime. That is before we ever get to the redevelopment of the site. The Department is actively working each month with that particular site and progress is being made. I want to recognise that.