Dáil debates

Wednesday, 5 October 2005

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion (Resumed).

 

7:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion. I deplore the Government's incompetence, mismanagement and the failure to ensure that taxpayers get value for money. This issue concerning the lack of accountability and proper respect for the citizens of this State highlights once again the waste of resources in our health service and in other public projects. This is not good enough when people are lying on trolleys and special needs assistants cannot be retained for children with disabilities. Children who need it cannot get speech therapy or occupational therapy services. This is not good enough and it makes my blood boil to listen to this debate.

On the wider issue of the waste of public money, I wish to highlight a number of examples. We learnt a month ago that the Dublin Port tunnel in my area was €200 million over budget and now it is in region of €335 million over budget. The electronic voting system cost taxpayers €52 million. The Government spent €30 million to buy a farm that was valued at €4 million. The Battle of the Boyne site, which could have been bought for €2.7 million, was bought instead by a private business and then sold back to the Office of Public Works 18 months later for €7.8 million. There was the revamping of the courthouse in Cork estimated to cost €6.5 million but which ended up costing the taxpayer the much larger amount of €26.5 million. Some 30 road projects, which were estimated to cost €932 million, have set us back €2.97 billion. Other road projects were 86% over budget.

I raise these issues along with the Trim Castle issue. They highlight the waste of taxpayers' money — the money of the Deputies opposite and of ours. The finance wasted could have ended the scandal of patients being treated on trolleys. It could have been used to build all the new schools required. It could have made a major dent on social housing waiting lists. It could have provided child care services and services to assist our elderly. That deals with a point raised by Deputy Curran.

This motion is about waste, taxpayers' money, accountability and, above all, ensuring that the money of citizens of this State is spent effectively and wisely. I urge all Deputies to support this Opposition motion.

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