5. asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether the recent uncertainty expressed on the long-term sustainability of the Springvale Educational Village was conveyed to his Department prior to the publication of the draft Budget.

(AQO 316/02)

I understand that the question relates to the main Springvale campus, which has been the subject of recent media attention. Officials in the Department for Employment and Learning alerted the Department of Finance and Personnel informally at the end of June this year that a potential problem had emerged with the Springvale outline business case that concerned initial affordability by the institutions rather than the long-term sustainability of the project. The Minister for Employment and Learning wrote to me formally on this on 25 September.

Given the important scrutiny role of the Committees, will the Minister say whether the matter was drawn to the attention of the relevant Committee, and, if not, why not?

I cannot answer that because I am not responsible for the Department for Employment and Learning, nor do I know of the engagement between that Department and its statutory Committee.