As the Deputy is aware this matter was discussed at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on 17 January, 2019. At that meeting the Secretary General of my Department undertook to make enquiries into the allegations made in respect of this matter and to furnish a report to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee as a matter of urgency.
I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that this report is currently being finalised. However, in advance of the provision of a detailed report, my officials in the Irish Prison Service have confirmed that there is no tractor missing from the fleet allocation assigned to Shelton Abbey.
I am further advised by the Director General that the Irish Prison Service Fleet Manager has confirmed that there are currently five tractors assigned to Shelton Abbey Open Centre, which has a working farm on site. The fleet manager has confirmed that all tractors have remained on site and have not been loaned or allocated to any other organisation at any time.