Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed concern at the latest news of a €500m plus increase in cost for the completion of the National Children’s Hospital.
Teachta Stanley said:
“The PAC had the Department of Health at our committee on the 1st of February and despite a considerable discussion around the National Children’s Hospital, we were not informed by the Secretary General of any increase in costs.
“An additional €500m increase in cost is of substantial and material impact and I am disappointed that we were not furnished with this information at our hearing.
“The cost of this project has gone from €450m, then €750m, then €1.4 billion and then €1.7 billion and now we have a price exceeding €2.2 billion.
“The design, contract and construction of this hospital has been a disaster and it has happened under Fine Gael leadership. From James Reilly, to Leo Varadkar to Simon Harris. Three consecutive Fine Gael Health Minister procured and signed off on this flawed contract.
“The PAC will continue to scrutinise this with the Department and Hospital Board in an effort to contain any further runaway costs.”
