Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if further to her letter of 20 December 2005 and a parliamentary question of 13 December 2005 she will address all the queries posed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21636/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The appointment of permanent teachers in a Vocational Education Committee is a matter for the relevant VEC subject to agreed procedures. The queries to which the Deputy refers are currently under consideration and my Department will contact the individual concerned directly.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when her Department purchased a property at Montbard, France, which was originally bought by Westmeath vocational educational committee; the price which was paid at the time for the property; and the cost of works and materials carried out to this property. [21637/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the expenditure by Westmeath vocational educational committee on a property at Montbard, France, in particular the cost of running FÁS and Youthreach programmes for the duration of the tenancy by Westmeath VEC. [21638/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the selling price of the Westmeath vocational educational committee property at Montbard, France; and the date on which this sale was finalised. [21639/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedures which were undertaken to sell the Westmeath vocational educational committee property at Montbard, France; and if an auctioneer was engaged to sell the property or if it was sold by public auction. [21640/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number and duration of visits by Departmental personnel to the Montbard Project in France; and the costs associated with each visit. [21641/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 to 360, inclusive, together.

My Department never acquired ownership of the Montbard property. It was purchased by the VEC in 1994 to be used as part of the VEC's Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) and Youthreach programmes. The purchase price was approximately €100,000 (£80,000). In addition to the purchase price, the VEC spent €260,000 on a number of items in connection with Montbard.

The property was sold by public auction on 22nd March 2006. The closing details of the sale have yet to be received. The selling price was €87,000.00.

The procedures undertaken to sell the property were as follows. The Department of Education and Science asked the Commissioners of Public Works to dispose of the property.

The first endeavours of the Office of Public Works to appoint a Local Estate Agent to deal with the disposal were unsuccessful. A firm of solicitors was employed to appoint an Auctioneer/Local Notary familiar with the area to dispose of the property.

An auction was initially scheduled on 15th December 2003, but there were no bidders. It was later sold by public auction on 22nd March 2006. The project was never visited by personnel of my Department.