Kids hospital cost shock ‘a breach of FF/FG agreement’
Martin not told of budget rises
MICHEAL Martin has said the Government’s failure to tell his party of cost increases at the National Children’s Hospital was a “breach” of their agreement.
The Fianna Fail leader claimed Fine Gael did not hold up their end of the confidence and supply agreement between them.
Mr Martin told RTE’S The Week In Politics it was his party’s view “every effort should be made to get costs down” at the facility.
And he said he believes “we haven’t got the full story” yet over the current operational budgets at the hospital.
Describing the controversy as “deeply dismaying” for members of the public, Mr Martin said many remain angry and concerned about other projects being delayed as a consequence of the overrun.
The estimated cost of the National Children’s Hospital, which will be located alongside the St James’s site in Dublin, has surged to at least €1.7billion but could eventually reach more than €2billion.
However, Mr Martin insisted that, while his party could “pull down” the Government every six months over issues such as the new building, they would not do so with the current crisis facing the EU.
He said: “The Brexit issue did trump everything and does trump everything because of the existential threat to some sectors of our economy.”
Mr Martin’s comments came as a Red C/sunday Business Post poll showed support for Fianna Fail had risen to 24% – an increase of 2%. However, it remained 7% behind Fine Gael.
Sinn Fein were the real winners in the poll, up 5% to 18%, its highest rating in two years.
The boost is believed to be a result of their motion for a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Simon Harris in relation to the cost overrun at the National Children’s Hospital.
The poll also showed Government partners the Independent Alliance were down three points to 2% while independents overall were up one point to 15%.
Labour has dropped one to 5%, the Green Party is down one to 2% and Solidarity-pbp are also down one to 1%.
The Social Democrats remain unchanged at 2%.