Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

It was part of the Minister's response that money became available from the sale of Shanganagh. It does not matter where the money came from. The cost of the site was four or five times the amounts being paid at the time. I investigated the issue carefully and found that alternative sites were available, including a farm of bigger size, equally if not better suited to the purpose than Thornton Hall, that went at auction for €5 million. Does he accept the reply given at the time by his predecessor, former Deputy Michael McDowell, who said he had no indication from the estate agents that the price could be regarded as exorbitant? They were getting fees from the deal. This raises issues as to whether these estate agents should have been engaged on behalf of the State.

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