Watt’s Going On?

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Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy (above left)  and Department of Health Secretary General Robert Watt (above right) whose letter to the Public Accounts Committe warns against any discussion on costs or dates on construction of  the National Children’s Hospital (top)

This afternoon.

The Department of Health is refusing to release details of a review into the new Children’s Hospital to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Social Democrats co-leader, and vice-chair of the PAC, Catherine Murphy.

Earlier this month, Mr Watt sent the PAC a letter which states:

“There is an extremely high likelihood that any discussion on costs or dates, however hypothetical, even from the draft stages of the process, would prejudice enforcement of the existing contract and very likely undermine the role of the Development Bord in its ongoing engagement with the main contractor.”

Ms Murphy said:

“A comprehensive review of this project, by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Department of Health, has been ongoing since last year. The Minister was given their draft report in January.

“In February, the PAC was told that report would be concluded within weeks – at which point there would finally be clarity about the hospital’s budget. But there appears to be a new approach now there is a new Secretary General.

According to Mr Watt, all of the most controversial information about this project – the cost and timeline – is suddenly too sensitive to publish. What a stroke of luck for the Department.

“The PAC is the State’s public spending watchdog. How on earth is it supposed to do its job if Departments won’t tell us how much they are spending? Mr Watt’s intervention has ensured this debacle has gone from tragedy to farce.

This latest review is at least the 13th into this omnishambles. Between 2017 and 2019, 11 separate reviews were undertaken at a cost of €700,000. An additional report was then sought from PwC at a cost of €450,000.

“After 12 reports costing €1.15 million, what did we learn? That the taxpayer would be lucky to emerge with any change from €1.7 billion for this project.

“Now, there is another report, the details of which are apparently too explosive to publish. What is the Department trying to hide?

“We know there have been more than 800 claims submitted by the contractor and the Hospital Development Board has been without a chairperson, and two members, since January.

How much is this project going to cost the Irish people; when is it going to be delivered and who is in charge of delivery?

“It is incredible that we still don’t have answers to these basic questions.”

Previously: There Cannot Be Price Certainty At This Point

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10 thoughts on “Watt’s Going On?

  1. Mr. T

    Robert Watt is truly the greedy civil servant personified.

    Dont forget that just before moving to Dept of Health, he authorized a massive pay increase for the role in Dept of Health he was due to take up!

  2. D-troll

    ill be shocked if FG do well in next election having regard to this rip off, and the national broadband plan.

  3. Zaccone

    Great digging work from Catherine Murphy as usual. Shes a credit to the country, really earns her salary.

  4. Jonner

    €3Bn+ at completion

    Mostly a result of awarding the contract before scoping and design was complete resulting in the continuous changing of scope or drip feeding of additional scope.

    the contractor and design teams are entitled to be paid for extra work and entitled to make a profit.

  5. Madam x

    If this project was 5% over budget in the north where they use JCT contracts it would be a scandal. Here in government they just shrugg the shoulders. Road building is the same. Our government has no idea how to control any cost, while the rest of us pay through the nose. Financial efficiency are alien words

  6. ce

    Meanwhile in the Mid-West… accidentally paying about 4 to 5 mill more for a site than they should have …

    https://www.limerickleader.ie/video/news/642123/watch-ul-president-admits-best-practice-was-not-followed-during-purchase-of-former-dunnes-stores-site.html

    … in the her opening remarks to the PA committee, El Presidente of UL doesn’t mention anything about her role as a a VP of the university during the sale… must watch the rest and see if it comes up in the rest of the grilling… (A certain former TD/Minister Harney was also very visible during the procurement of the site, as chancellor of the university and chairperson of university’s governing authority)

    Small change compared to the hospital, about the amount you might find behind the sofa…

  7. GiggidyGoo

    So, tender was agreed, contractors appointed etc. Those contractors will be finishing the job. What’s commercially sensitive?

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