Mr. Robert Watt:

There are two aspects to value for money. There is the cost element and the value we put on the new hospital. We currently have three children's hospitals. Nobody is satisfied with the condition of these facilities. I was in Temple Street Hospital a few weeks ago. Members are aware from their own personal experiences or the experiences of their constituents that the current facilities we have for paediatric care in this country are not adequate and that is why everybody supports the construction of the new children's hospital. There is a value on the new facility but nobody in this room, in my Department or anywhere else knows what that value is. The cost of providing it is higher than we thought would be the case or would have hoped and a judgment call had to be made. The Government made the judgment call in December to proceed with the new children's hospital even though the costs, as outlined to Deputy Michael McGrath, are greater than was anticipated. The Government decided that even with that cost, the benefit and importance of this facility are such that it would proceed with it on behalf of the taxpayer.

In regard to what represents value for money, nobody can put a value on facilities. On the question of whether I am convinced that everybody here will be happy to have this new facility, I think they will be.