Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. He mentioned oversight and his Department but have specific concerns in respect of the cost and rising expenditure on the hospital project been flagged? As he is aware, in March 2017 and March 2019 the Rural Independent Group, of which I am part, gave the previous Government openings to change course in respect of the national children's hospital when my colleagues provided opportunities for a radical reassessment of the project. The then Government failed to take those opportunities and now we are on track for unprecedented cost overruns and endless legal battles with contractors. Where was the Minister's Department in terms of oversight of this issue? We have learned from reports in the media last week that many of the costs are down to the fact that the contracts were signed before designs were even drawn up. That in itself was a recipe for disaster. We also know that more than 700 claims have now been lodged by various contractors against the project, with the associated amount thought to be in excess of €300 million.

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