Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will now open the discussion to the floor. I thank the representatives for appearing before the committee. Mr. Nolan referred to the sensitivity of negotiations with the on-site contractor. As the delegates are aware, this issue has received much coverage in recent weeks, notably in the Dáil Chamber a couple of weeks ago when it was discussed by the Taoiseach and by the leader of my party, Deputy Micheál Martin. Answers were not given. Taxpayers are concerned about the cost of the project and the people of County Cork and the southern region are concerned about when it will be completed.

Mr. Nolan stated that a new engineering contract has been selected for usage because of the risks involved on the site. If TII was aware of the risks and so forth, why were its figures wrong? The project went to public approval in 2015. TII estimated a cost of €100 million for the contract within the past four years. How did it get its figures wrong before the contractor was brought on site? How did it get its figures wrong if it was aware of the impact of risk assessment matters on the budget? Why was the cost underestimated to such a degree before the contractor came on site?

Mr. Nolan referred to the problems with the site, including the rail line, the river to the south, utilities going through the site and trying to operate while maintaining traffic flow. The interchange is on a main arterial route, the M8 to Dublin and the East Cork Parkway of N25 which leads to Waterford and Rosslare. How did TII get its figures wrong before a contractor went on site?