Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Public Accounts Committee

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2018

9:00 am

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would have thought that somebody coming in with the 2018 financial statements that have been signed off by the board, audited, approved by Cabinet, lodged with the Oireachtas, noted and presented at the committee would be able to give us information on any figure within those accounts. That is what the Committee of Public Accounts is about. Getting a set of accounts is just the start of the meeting. We give our thanks and note that we have them on file and then delve into and analyse the accounts. The first question I asked referred to the board's note which said that phase A, which related to the substructure, had been completed. I asked whether we could have a breakdown of the costs now that it has been completed. That is what this committee is for. We are here to ask those questions. The Committee of Public Accounts expects answers to such questions today, not in ten days' time. Doe the witnesses get my point? They might not like that point but I am making it to everyone collectively. I will come to Mr. Breslin because he is the chairman of the children's hospital project programme board. Does he know the cost of phase A or can he give me a breakdown?