Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Other Deputies have outlined the level of waste of public money on various projects, such as the national children's hospital, the Dáil printer that did not fit into a room, the art scanner that was bought for €125,000 without anyone thinking about where to put it, the bike shelter, the security hut and so on.

The list of these projects goes on.

What drives people mad is that there are local projects desperately looking for funding to stay open or enhance their services. Last week I raised the issue of the Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living. Its funding has increased by just €2,000 since 2018 despite the number of people looked after there trebling. The Genesis counselling service could provide an extra 4,000 hours of counselling in Dublin 15 for €200,000. Imagine that. That is value for money in my eyes. When we talk about value for money, the Departments that scrutinise community projects should learn from them and share with those who are wasting millions of euro the experience of how community projects are well-run on a shoestring, providing genuine value for money.

Today, many TDs will raise the issue of the money that has been spent but I want to look at an issue brought up by An Taisce with regard to MetroLink and the Tara Street section of that project. The Markievicz leisure centre, located close to here, is home to the only remaining swimming pool in the south inner city. An apartment block named College Gate will also be demolished during this project. Reports have estimated it will cost up to €60 million extra to buy and demolish those apartments and relocate their occupants. As we stand here now, that will cost €60 million extra compared with a cut and cover tunnel. There are different methods that can be used but the choice that has been made is to knock down the apartments and relocate them. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and the cost of housing has gone up year on year. The figure of €60 million is the estimated cost today. Imagine what the cost will be in five or ten years’ time if the MetroLink project is ever started. I urge the Minister of State to look at this project and its funding, and the Tara Street section in particular. We do not to be standing here in three, five or six years' time saying, “My God, what an absolutely shocking waste of money.” Being forewarned and forearmed, I do not think we want to see that waste of money here.

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