David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

2 o’clock

Of course, PPPs can be presented as an alternative model. The question is whether they are viable and represent value for money. Even conservative economists such as Colm McCarthy have raised concerns about their use. There are significant oversight issues that need to be addressed but nothing in the Minister's response indicates this will be the case. The Comptroller and Auditor General says he does not have the resources to give the Committee on Public Accounts the reassurance it wants about value for money. He said there is a need for post-project reviews to be carried out. Very few of these reviews were carried out and presented to the Committee on Public Accounts for proper scrutiny. There are no real checks and balances and no opportunity, despite the Government's talk of reform, for us to assess the value for money of PPPs. Unless the Minister is prepared to present us with a value-for-money report and a review of the existing use of PPPs, it is unlikely that he will get support for further PPPs.

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