Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On capital spending, the national children's hospital project is running over budget by at least €450 million. The Taoiseach has referred to a figure of €3 billion for the national broadband plan. We have heard of other projects. At a local level in Cork, the Dunkettle interchange contract is yet to be signed but there are rumours - that is all they are - that the project will cost much more than was expected. I make this point in the context of the Government's commitment to a multi-annual capital plan, the national development plan, and a range of projects set out within it. Is the Minister concerned about how far the money he has earmarked will go given the level of construction inflation and pressures in the economy, including labour shortages in construction where labour rates are rising? Is he concerned that the Government may not be in a position to deliver many of the projects specified because costs are rising very quickly?