Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is my understanding the design team was appointed by the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board. To be fair, I have seen delays occur in many school projects and the question of looking for a fault or ascribing fault is not always the route to go. There may have been some unanticipated problems that cropped up such as planning issues. It is not my business to try to ascribe fault. The Department has been fair. We try to make sure we use our resources to the very best effect. We would not be thanked if it proceeded to tender and there was a legal challenge and next thing we were in the courts fighting a case about an aggrieved person who felt he or she should have got the tender. Processes are in place to protect the taxpayer and the school and they have been applied in this case. I will not get into the business of trying to ascribe fault because I do not know the full record of how this proceeded. I have explained the situation that there was an incomplete submission and this was corrected and it has been approved. On legal advice a fresh tender process has been undertaken.

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