James Bannon (Fine Gael)

The purpose of this amendment is to end cronyism, which is rife in this country. Members of the public mistrust the format used for tendering. It is their money that is spent to cover project overruns. A halt must be called to overruns of 30% to 40% where expenses are incurred to finish a particular contract. The Minister of State claims that one particular Bill cannot be singled out to do this. However, it must be seriously examined by Government.

The power of upkeep of primary and secondary roads was taken from the elected local authority members and given to the National Roads Authority. This and other quangos meet behind closed doors and are not accountable, while their annual reports inform of overruns. The onus is on the Government to improve the system in the interest of the taxpayers as they bear the brunt of overrun costs. Members of the public are crying out for these project overruns to be halted. It is not just in roads construction but also in telecommunications, bus and rail service projects with vast amounts being spent on administration, which is the main cause of wastage. Rather than spending money on much needed classrooms and educational services for pupils, it is spent on administration and under the heading "miscellaneous costs". The Government must ensure that those miscellaneous costs are teased out from the various bodies and a halt brought to wastage.