National children’s hospital cost overrun
Deputy Doherty condemned the hospital cost escalation and questioned whether the tender had been set unrealistically low. He called for a full public investigation, and the Tánaiste replied that an independent review of the increased costs and responsibilities had been approved.
The situation regarding the overrun on the national children's hospital is a catastrophic failure of the Government and those overseeing the project. To tell the truth, the explanations given to the Joint Committee on Health were absurd and farcical. We know that the original tender from BAM was €131 million lower than the nearest competitor. Did nobody in the Department raise how the tender price came in €131 million lower than what anybody else could build the hospital for? I recall the now Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, suggesting at the time that the project could come in below cost. Given that we know there is an overrun of more than €1 billion, which could increase further, what is needed now is accountability and a full, open, transparent public inquiry into how the project got completely out of control and who is responsible to make sure that it never happens again with public money.
Comment on this
Will the Tánaiste commit to the Government allowing for a full public investigation into this complete catastrophe?
Comment on this
As I am sure Deputy Doherty knows, the Government has approved the commissioning of an independent review of the escalation in cost in determining the adjusted contract sum. The review will commence this month and will examine the contributory factors and associated responsibilities so that any potential weaknesses are identified and comprehensively and speedily resolved in the interests of the successful completion of the project but also to learn lessons for other projects.