An irate and impassionate local councillor says questions need to be asked following the announcement today that the National Children’s Hospital will now exceed €2 billion.
The final bill for the long-awaited National Children’s Hospital was revealed by the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly earlier when has told Cabinet colleagues.that the costs for the project has gone up by €500 million taking the final bill to €2.24 billion. Cavan Councillor Shane P O'Reilly says questions need to be asked how did this happen and that today is a day that everyone involved in this project should hang their heads in shame.
A previous estimate in 2019 put the final bill for the project at €1.7 billion. The Taoiseach said the hospital will open this year, telling the Dáil that they will not be allocating any more money to the hospital. But he predicted that there will be years of disputes with the contractor (BAM) about payments even when the hospital is fully open.
Cllr Shane P O'Reilly says it doesn't bring him any joy in saying that he was of the representatives that said it would cost in excess of €2 billion and he believes it won't stop at that. The Cavan Councillor has described todays announcement as a 'national disgrace'.
