Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that a number of the witnesses have not been involved throughout this project and were not responsible for some of the issues that went on in the past.

I ask for short answers to my questions because our time is obviously limited. I am not being rude; it is just the way we have to work. Deputy Catherine Murphy and I have a long track record on this issue going back to a previous Committee of Public Accounts. I think it was in February 2019 that I asked the then Secretary General if this whole project would come in at under €2 billion. I said I did not believe it would and he could not give an answer. I said it would go over €2 billion.

That was nearly five years ago. I am not clairvoyant or anything. I know there were other issues but this is going to come in substantially over €2 billion. If anyone in the room would like to contradict that, he or she should please tell me now. That is as I expected.

My question is going to be to the Department because we have heard a lot from Mr. Gunning and Ms Hardiman. I appreciate everything they are trying to do and the conditions by which they have to do them. I have been in government and I understand the way in which these things have to be done.

Ms Hardiman and Mr. Gunning have put forward a plan as regards the expectation in terms of what capital they will require to close off this project. Is that fair? The question is directed to Mr. Tierney who, for the audience, is in charge of capital projects on behalf of the Department of Health.