I support Senator Clifford-Lee, my party's deputy leader in the Seanad, in her comments on the national children's hospital and the overrun. Statements on housing are listed on the Order of Business and it is appropriate that we should raise the housing of sick children and the building in which they will be housed. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell tabled a Private Members' motion in the previous Seanad, the aim of which was to try to prevent the Government from selling the national lottery licence. We were told at that stage that the cost of the hospital would be €450 million and that the sale of the national lottery licence would go more than half way towards providing funding for this much needed facility.

That is true.

The amount involved became €930 million and has now risen to €1.7 billion. Following what was stated at a committee meeting last week, it appears that the final figure could be more than €2 billion. Senator Colm Burke pointed out the various stages of planning the hospital went through. The reality is that the decision of An Bord Pleanála regarding the Mater Hospital site could have been appealed but it was not and that was as a result of political reasons.

Where could the An Bord Pleanála decision be appealed to?

Order, please.

There is no appeal, except through the courts.

Order, please.

It was not for political reasons. Senator Wilson should get his facts right.

Senator Wilson should be allowed to speak, without interruption.

I refer to the decision to transfer the project to the St. James's Hospital site.

One can appeal against planning permissions.

I am making a ruling. Senator Wilson should be allowed to speak, without interruption.

The development costs of that site were outrageous.

The An Bord Pleanála decision would have had to be appealed through the courts.

I must inform Senator Colm Burke that the Leader will respond.

I agree with my party's deputy leader in the Seanad-----

Of course, you do.

-----that it is time for the Minister for Health to come before the House to explain exactly what is going on. We do not need to pay €500,000 extra to PwC to tell us what we already know.

Hear, hear.

A blunder has been made. People are running for cover and do not want to be blamed for the overrun.

PwC was one of the auditors of the Bank of Ireland and was discussed at the banking inquiry.

The Minister has overall responsibility for the Department and it is time he came to the House and took responsibility.

It is totally discredited.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for indulging me. In the context of housing, I also want to discuss the housing of members of the Defence Forces. This is an issue I have raised in the House on many occasions, including last week. A purpose-built, state-of-the-art Army barracks is lying idle in Cavan town at a time when the Department of Defence is looking at warehouses to put soldiers into.

Hear, hear. It is.

It is more waste of money. It is nonsense. It is time people stood up and took responsibility for the Departments they are being paid to run.