Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Pollock. Before we start with questions from members, I want to contextualise this matter. This is an unusual meeting. I understand the witnesses have been before the Joint Committee on Health three times in the past fortnight. Those meetings lasted for almost 11 hours, approximately. We are coming in after that point. I will clarify some of the key issues. While some Oireachtas Members, and perhaps some members of the public, will be conscious of some of the discussion at the health committee over those three meetings, many members here and many members of the public may not be aware of what has been said so far.

The gist of the two presentations this morning is to explain the increase in the cost from €983 million up to €1.433 billion. That is an increase of €450 million based on what was approved by the Cabinet. In the briefing material the witnesses sent to us and the health committee, however, it is stated that the starting figure was €637 million for the business case. That business case was made some time before it went to Government. The witnesses are starting today, however, with a figure of €983 million and not dealing with that additional €346 million.