Leo: ‘I’m also frustrated by the children’s hospital bill overrun’

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar says he understands the public’s frustration at the overrun in the cost of the National Children’s Hospital.

At a dinner in Dublin last night he said: ‘I know taxpayers are annoyed. I share that. It’s taxpayers’ money – your money – and it should be spent well.’

Mr Varadkar told the AGM of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce: ‘We are investigating the source of the problem and we will get answers. But we will not allow this problem to derail this or other projects.’

The Taoiseach’s pledge not to allow ‘derailments’ does not rule out delays, however. The Government is due next week to present a package of ‘reprofiled’ delivery of other capital projects around the country.

Mr Varadkar said: ‘The idea of a new National Children’s Hospital was first suggested in 1980. It had been promised by several governments. This Government will see it done.

‘It will transform paediatric healthcare in Ireland and will benefit not only your children but their grandchildren too.’

The €116 billion investment in the National Development Plan will also mean improved health services across the capital from new hospitals to primary care centres, he said.

There were currently two other hospitals under construction in Dublin, he said, in addition to the National Children’s Hospital.

These are the new National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire and the new Central Mental Health Hospital in Portrane. A fourth major facility, the National Maternity Hospital, is due to go to tender this year, he added.

‘It’s the biggest investment in our health service infrastructure in a generation,’ the Taoiseach maintained.