Jim Higgins
Ceist:59 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his Department briefed the Taoiseach on the proposed purchase of Carysfort College by UCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Purchase of Carysfort College.
Jim Higgins
Ceist:60 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his Department made a presentation to the Taoiseach on the purchase of Carysfort College by UCD; the details of such presentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together. Officials of my Department briefed the Taoiseach in early December 1990 on procedural issues that arose in connection with the Supplementary Estimate for third level education required to provide funds towards the cost of the purchase and refurbishment of Carysfort College by UCD. At the time of the briefing, another separate Supplementary Estimate for third level education was necessary because of a delay in receipts from the European Social Fund, but this had not been moved in the Dáil. The 1991 Abridged Estimates Volume, which was about to be published, included, in its figures for 1990, the latter Supplementary Estimate.
Two questions then arose, namely whether the two supplementary Estimates should be combined and the publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume deferred to allow for incorporation in the 1990 figures of the expenditure proposed on Carysfort. It was decided to have two Supplementary Estimates and not to delay publication of the abridged Estimates Volume, but to publish it as planned at the time planned.
The 1990 figure for Third Level Education included in the Revised 1991 Estimates Volume, published after the budget, includes both Supplementary Estimates.
No other briefings of the Taoiseach by officials of my Department took place and no presentation was made to the Taoiseach by such officials.