Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012
37 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a date for publication of the value for money review of small schools; the costs that were associated with conducting this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10288/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not in a position to give a publication date for the value for money review of small primary schools but I can confirm the review will be published. Work is well advanced and I expect that the report of the review should be available to me shortly.
The review is being conducted in line with the standard procedures for the conduct of value for money reviews under the guidance of a Steering Committee composed of officials from relevant Government Departments with an external Chairperson. The costs associated with the review are principally the salary costs for the officials involved in respect of the time they spend on the review and there is also a once-off modest payment to the Chairperson of the review. Given that all the officials involved have many duties other than the value for money review, the Deputy will appreciate it is not possible to isolate the costs of the officials' salaries for the time they spend on the value for money review.
