Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the legal basis on which she can refuse to answer Parliamentary Question No. 670 of 21 March 2023 in relation to the annual rental costs for the current temporary accommodation and site of a school (details supplied); if such a request for those costs is not disclosed, how oversight and transparency on the expenditure of these public funds are to be achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19732/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department seeks to maximise value for money in all rental arrangements and works to ensure that the best possible price is negotiated. In that context, the disclosure of information about current rental agreements can compromise the achievement of value for money in current and future negotiations.

For that reason of commercial sensitivity, my Department is not in a position to provide information regarding the rental costs of interim accommodation for the school at this point in time.

Robust procedures are in place in the Department to ensure that due diligence is undertaken in advance of approving public monies, including the costs referred to here.

These processes are also subject to audit by the Comptroller & Auditor General, and the Department's Internal Audit Unit.