Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will not get into the whole problem because I do not have time.

I broke down the figures with the board two weeks ago. There was a figure of €140 million, in addition to the €60 million, and the extra €250 million brought it to €450 million. On 18 September the Minister answered a parliamentary question to the effect that the projected cost was still €983 million, but he knew that it was not €983 million because he had been informed, on either 24 or 27 August, that it would be significantly higher. Why did he not answer the parliamentary question by saying it would be higher than €983 million? At what point after 24 August did he inform the Taoiseach, either formally or informally, that we had a problem?

There is a real issue with the structures which are quite confusing for the public. There is a national board which, according to the delegates, reports to a steering committee which is chaired by Mr. Sullivan and then reports to a board chaired by Mr. Breslin which, in turn, reports to the Minister. In August the Department was informed by the original board of the hospital that there were issues. Did that board not have to report to the steering committee? When was Mr. Sullivan told and when did he tell Mr. Breslin? Did the board bypass Mr. Sullivan and go straight to the Department? When was the acting chief executive of the HSE told about these issues? Why was a meeting held in the HSE in the middle of November? It is clear that at that point it was news to most people at the highest levels of the HSE.