Officials in the Department of Health tried to warn Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe about escalating costs at the national children’s hospital weeks before the budget, newly released documents reveal. Further controversy has also engulfed Health Minister Simon Harris, whose position was last night described as untenable and who has now been accused of failing to provide full information on the escalating costs of building the national children’s hospital. Mr Harris last night continued to say he acted “entirely appropriate” and he would work to deliver the hospital. Mr Harris and Mr Donohoe faced a barrage of criticisms in the Dáil yesterday over who knew what and when they were told of the out-of-control hospital costs, which may see the final bill reach €2bn. Tracey Conroy, who is on the children’s hospital project and programme steering group, also wrote in November that meetings had been sought multiple times from September.

Source: Irish Examiner February 08, 2019 06:11 UTC