Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the statement that officials of the Department will meet the principals and chairpersons of the boards of management of the schools concerned. However, Deputies in the relevant constituencies, who include the two main Opposition spokespersons on education, should receive a similar briefing. I will certainly make myself available for a briefing should the Minister consider it appropriate.

I am concerned by some aspects of the Minister's response. His statement was utterly different from his initial reaction to the collapse of Carillion. This is disappointing but at least we are now coming close to the truth of the matter.

The Minister omitted to mention a number of issues. He indicated that DIF is required to intervene "with the approval of the project funders" to ensure the project is completed to the satisfaction of the State. The project funder is the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, the largest bank in Japan. Is it the case that the project cannot be completed until a bank official in Tokyo gives his or her approval? The Minister must clarify this as the issue is becoming more complicated by the minute and we need clarity on when students will move into the schools.

The Minister did not respond to my invitation to him to meet subcontractors. It is important he meets them because they need to have confidence that they will be able to work on school projects in future.

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