Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the witnesses here this morning. I wish to make a number of comments and ask questions. I thank the officials from the Department of Health and the HSE for coming here. The committee extended an invitation to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform but no officials from that Department are in attendance. Their non-attendance is akin to staging a production of "Hamlet" without the Prince of Denmark. Their non-attendance is not the fault of the witnesses present. I wish to put it on the record how disappointed I am that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform decided not to send any officials to the meeting.

As we all know, a quarter of the population are under the age of 16. Without doubt, they deserve the very best of services but the overspend on the national children's hospital is very worrying. If this matter was not so serious it would be funny. I listened to what the witnesses said this morning and it seems the costs have snowballed. Plans were made but the hospital will cost so much more than originally planned. Would the witnesses define the costs as an overrun or an underestimation? Both aspects are very serious, unacceptable and unprofessional.

Many members have watched the television programme "Room to Improve" where the architect Dermot Bannon comes up with great ideas for house extensions and improving houses. On the programme, he has a very able quantity surveyor who manages the project and ensures that he does not do anything that was not part of the original contract. The hospital is a very big plan so surely there was someone in a similar role who should have said, "Stop", reminded people that the expenditure was not part of the original agreement and asked people to curb expenditure. Who signed off the original contract? What name is on the contract? Is the initial contract not binding? What projects will be delayed due to the overspend? What are the knock-on effects of the overspend? I am a great believer in looking forward and accept that the past cannot be changed. What lessons can be learned from this debacle?

I wish to ask a few questions about the opening statements. Mr. Sullivan said that an independent review is ongoing and will be completed in March. Does he think that completion time is acceptable? I believe it is too long to wait, particularly after he mentioned how much the project will cost. Let us remember that taxpayers' money will be used to pay for the building project. Taxpayers will also pay the extra cost for the review. Does he see it as value for money?

Mr. Desmond said that there is a "disturbing escalation in cost", which is putting it mildly, and that "the Government decided to proceed with the project". Can he tell me the exact date the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach were made aware of the "escalation in cost"?

Mr. Desmond mentioned also that there are different health capital projects under way. I especially welcome the fact the plans include the radiation oncology unit in Cork as it is very difficult for patients to travel from Cork to Dublin for a treatment due to the distance involved. Can he outline the status of that project, please? If he does not have the information to hand then he can forward it to me.