Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Much has been said during this debate about the ongoing waste of public money. I thank everybody who took part in the debate. I would like to get answers to a few questions. Does the Government think it is value for money to pay €9 million for mobile phone pouches? Was it value for money to pay €336,000 for a bike shed? Was it value for money to pay €440,000 for a modular home? Was it value for money to spend €1.4 million on a security hut? Was it value for money to have to spend €4.3 million as a result of not paying bills on time? This is before I mention the never-ending cost overruns associated with the children's hospital project, which was signed off by the Taoiseach, Simon Harris. There is no accountability in this Government. The Government amendment means that it is simply incapable of listening to ordinary workers and families. Instead, we have a Government spending €9 million on mobile phone pouches that nobody wants. Why can children not keep their phones in their lockers? My kids do this in their school. Why can they not keep them in their bags or simply be asked to turn them off? This costs nothing. This is common sense and the thing about common sense is that it is not very common when it comes to this Government.

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