Harris must hold officials accountable for NCH overspend

Issued : Friday 1 February, 2019

Labour Health spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has called on the Minister for Health to act and hold those who are responsible, accountable for the soaring costs of the National Children’s Hospital.

Deputy Kelly said:

“A pointless review is underway into the costs of the National Children’s Hospital where no one will be held responsible.

“The Minister says there will be accountability and that there will be personnel changes but he hasn’t said who.

“The Minister continually says he will be very clear but he has been anything but on the soaring costs of the children’s hospital.

”If he is to stick to his word he should ask for the Chairman of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board Tom Costello and the Project Director John Pollock to step down with immediate affect.

“People are shocked at the scale of the blank cheque that Fine Gael Ministers have given to this project.

“For a party that prides itself on economic prudence it’s frankly embarrassing that Simon Harris and Paschal Donohoe have allowed this happen. The mounting costs have put at risk countless essential health projects across the country.”