Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The projected cost overrun in respect of the national children's hospital is, at best, a fiasco and, at worst, an example of gross incompetence on the part of the Government and those overseeing the project. What is most worrying is that, despite the fact that this overrun is set to blow a hole in the capital budget for years to come, no one seems willing to take responsibility for it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, whose function is to supervise Government procurement and public expenditure, has gone into hiding. Its Secretary General has refused to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health to account for the Department's role in this process.

On "The Week in Politics" at the weekend, the Chief Whip and Minister of State, Teachta Kyne, said that the position of the Secretary General was not sustainable. He was right. He offered up the view that the Comptroller and Auditor General could review the spiralling cost of the children's hospital. We in Sinn Féin welcomed that suggestion and were hopeful that such an investigation would be forthcoming, but lo and behold, a few hours after the suggestion was made, it was rebuffed by a Government spokesperson. It would seem that the Minister of State either misspoke or was slapped down. Which was it?

There are serious issues to be examined. The original tender from BAM was €131 million lower than the next bid. Did anyone in government raise questions as to how the accepted tender could be delivered when others were indicating clearly that it would cost over €100 million more to deliver? Surely the Taoiseach will agree when I suggest that someone or a group of people have messed up seriously. Will he now act without hesitation and agree to a full public investigation into what has happened and who is responsible? This is serious stuff.

The Government has committed to capital spending of €3 billion over the next four years. An overrun of more than €450 million will reduce that amount by up to 15% and will stop projects that have been provided for going ahead. That is the reality. There is significant concern in communities across the State about how the overspend will impact on them and on commitments made to fund badly needed projects. For example, what of the commitment for a new MRI scanner at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar? What about the second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford? What about the Drimnagh primary care centre? I could go on.

What projects will be cut because of this scandalous cost overrun? People want an answer to that question. Will the Taoiseach clarify whether he agrees with the Minister of State that the position of the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is not sustainable and that he should make himself available to answer questions?

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