Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to point out that we are dealing with a 25-year lease. From the very start, the OPW has said that a mistake was made. The OPW has never, to any degree, stated that it has not acknowledged that a mistake was made. It is important to put on the record of the House that the total amount in question of the difference, when calculated over a 25-year period, is €8.6 million. The VAT on top of that it would be €1.9 million. The OPW is anxious to point out that this is a 25-year lease. We estimate that the discussions we are having with the landlord would allow for an opportunity for recoupment to be made.

As Deputy Shortall pointed out, there continue to be discussions, the most recent having taken place with chairman of the OPW, and he referred to this at the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts last week. Ongoing dialogue in this area will continue. I have spoken to the commissioners in respect of the matter. To be honest, it is not satisfactory and we do not accept that it is satisfactory. We have put new protocols in place within the Department to make sure that a subsequent error of this nature cannot happen again. I accept what Deputy Shortall said.

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