Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this very important motion regarding the waste and overspending of taxpayers' money. I will focus on two major projects on the north side of Dublin. The site of the proposed prison at Thornton Hall cost €30 million for a farm that is worth €15 million. Where is the Tánaiste going in this regard? Where is the bright boy in the class, when he squanders €15 million? We can all imagine what we could do with €15 million to address the shortage of beds in wards, speech therapy services, and home help and care services for the elderly.

On 26 January 2005 the Department of Finance sanctioned funds to purchase Thornton Hall, stating that the sanction was conveyed on the condition that all procurement guidelines had been strictly followed. As the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General clearly highlights that all procurement guidelines were not strictly followed, the logical deduction is that Thornton Hall was bought without financial sanction. The Tánaiste should wake up and smell the coffee. He is out of touch and is wasting public funds.

Another project in my constituency is the Dublin Port tunnel, which was supposed to cost €300 million and up to now has cost approximately €900 million, three times the price. It is finally estimated to cost €1.2 billion when completed. Tell that to the 261 families whose homes have been damaged, the 117 in Marino who are awaiting compensation and the taxpayers who want value for money and proper accountability. This motion is about overspending, incompetence, mismanagement and the failure to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent wisely, and I urge all Deputies to support it.

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