David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Waterford IT has withdrawn from the process. We still have not been given a report. People have been told by people in Waterford and elsewhere that Carlow IT is way behind. Give us the facts. From day one there should have been an independent validation of the entire process. The problem is that was never done.

I specifically wrote to the Minister, as an Oireachtas Member, seeking a meeting to discuss this issue. I got a reply to say that, due to earlier commitments, she was unable to meet me. I cannot understand her reply because this is such an important issue. She was able to come in here today to take this Commencement matter. Why is she not in a position to meet an Oireachtas Member who lives in the south east, who is passionate about this issue, who wants to move it on, who wants to be supportive, and who wants to talk to her about my real concerns and those of the people who have come to me with these issues? I ask her to reconsider a meeting. It is important that she listens to all the voices in the region and to work constructively with the Opposition on this issue. Without independent validation on where the collective is at, we will stumble from one crisis to the next and will leave this issue unresolved. I ask the Minister to take my comments on board.