Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

The proposed national development finance agency is not intended to undertake project management. The functions of the agency, which are very specific and are set out in section 3, include providing advice and, in certain circumstances, finance in respect of public investment projects, including public private partnerships. It will be a matter for the relevant Ministers or, where there is delegated sanction, the accounting officers or their equivalent, to decide on the financing structure of projects. The management of projects will be a matter for the appropriate State authority. In other words, the NRA will manage its projects and the DOE, or a local authority on its behalf, may manage another project. The Department of Education and Science or one of its subordinate agencies may manage another project. It will not be a matter for the new body to be involved in the management of projects. Consequently, is dona liom nach bhfuil mé in ann glacadh leis an leasú.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 2 agreed to.

SECTION 3.