Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The one concern I have relates to the phrase in the second last paragraph "the value for money perspective", but we will leave that issue to one side. Time is passing. I know that requests were made that the officials from the OPW, the Department of Education and Skills and Cork County Council meet the local stakeholders, the patrons and members of the boards of management. Is the Department absolutely and completely committed to this project? Without further delay will the Minister of State give a commitment, on behalf of the Department, that departmental officials with their colleagues in the OPW will commit to having an immediate meeting with officials in Cork County Council, the local stakeholders and the boards of management of the two schools within the shortest possible timeframe? Months are slipping by. There was a problem, on which Cork County Council deliberated very hard. I would like direct and straight answers from the Minister of State because this has been a long-running issue. Is the Department fully committed to the project and will the Minister of State instruct his officials to meet the OPW officials who will take the instruction to sit down with officials of Cork County Council? The county council has given me and others a commitment that it will meet at a moment's notice with the Department and the OPW and representatives of the boards of management to advance the project in order that everybody will know where they are at, what the issues are and how they can be dealt with.

See this speech in context