Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath is raising concerns about the delivery and management of major State Capital Programmes.
The National Children’s hospital may cost a sum higher than €2.5B – the project had an original estimated cost of €650M. The TD remains adamant that the city centre site made the project more costly in addition to the selected design and the contract with BAM Construction company being swamped with additional claims.
Deputy McGrath notes that the hospital may cost effectively €3M per bed when the internationally accepted price for any children’s hospital to be built is €1 million per bed.
The TD also cited major overruns on the National Broadband Plan – originally estimated to cost €500 million – final cost will be closer to €3 billion. The Luas, originally estimated to cost €289 million, ended up at €578 million. The Dublin Port Tunnel, originally earmarked for €160 million, ended up costing €495 million
The Rural Independents want the government to engage with independent external expertise, such as the National Development Finance Agency, to bring proper oversight such projects but especially to the National Children’s Hospital.
