Tánaiste Simon Harris received emails and letters from members of the public voicing frustration about delays and soaring costs linked to the National Children’s Hospital during his time as taoiseach.
One such message told the former taoiseach that he had been consistent so far, with “one disaster after another left in your wake”, reports Breaking News.
The National Children’s Hospital is now expected to miss yet another completion deadline, adding to a long list of delays for what has become Ireland’s most expensive public construction project.
This marks the 16th postponement for the development, with completion now anticipated sometime next year, reports Breaking News.
The cost of the project has continued climbing, increasing from €987 million to €2.2 billion, with repeated delays heightened by an increasingly strained relationship between the builders, BAM, and the project’s oversight board, according to The Irish Times.
BAM, the main contractor, is now coming under growing pressure as expenses rise further and deadlines stretch out again, reports Breaking News.
Correspondence reviewed by BreakingNews.ie shows that members of the public criticised Harris over the repeated missed deadlines and escalating financial burden associated with the hospital.
One person said: “Sense of great pride. You will be lucky if your great grandchildren see that hospital open. We take our time in Ireland and rip off the taxpayer,” reports Breaking News.
One member of the public also wrote to Harris about their personal experiences caring for a seriously ill child.
“I have spent more nights than I care to remember in hospital at my child’s bedside. While my sick child slept in his tiny room in his bed, I slept in a chair or on a mattress on the floor,” they said. “I washed my sick child in a communal bathroom. On some wards, there was no play area for my child. I would love to walk through the corridors of our children’s hospital as they currently are with you and those involved in the building of our hospital.
Another wrote: “My notifcation to you is on behalf of the little children around Ireland who are suffering excruciating pain and still with no children’s hospital open. A project that initially cost €750 million. We now have a cost of €2.2 billion and more than likely to be increased. Consequently, to the above is where is the accountability for the hard earned tax payers money,” reports Breaking News.
But more importantly how can this Government stand over their integrity when little children are suffering on a daily basis. The question for you minister and the Government is who signed off on the contracts following on from the tendering process and whose incompetency has failed these little children who are suffering with excruciating pain on a daily basis and all because the little children’s hospital remains unopened. All I can say is shame on you all,” reports Breaking News.
Another member of the public got in touch to say: “Great job on Children’s Hospital by the way! Four times over budget, another weak contract, no accountability.
“Great profit for BAM. Got any share in BAM Simon? Just goes to show how corrupt and sick the system that I am forced to finance with endless taxation and stealth taxes really is. Keep up the ‘good work’ kid. Playing a blinder!” reports Breaking News.
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