David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I respect the Ministers of State who are present and we all understand why the Minister for Health travelled, I again make the point to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that a real crisis has unfolded at Temple Street hospital but there have been no statements on the matter this week in the Dáil. I asked questions on one of the most important issues facing the Department, that is, to get the national children's hospital delivered. The Government has a completion date but it will not share it. We are being told there will be updates and there has to be validation. It seems that time stops when it comes to the children's hospital but what goes on are cost overruns, lack of accountability and the fact that this Chamber, the Oireachtas and the public still cannot be given a completion date. That is absolutely bonkers. There is potentially €1 billion or more of a cost overrun in a Department and there is a row between the HSE and the Department of Health but we cannot be given the figure and the Minister cannot tell us it. It seems the Minister is asleep at the wheel on crucial issues in his Department and that is simply not good enough.

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