This article is from page 2 of the 2006-08-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
SERIOUS doubt has been cast on the future of plans to upgrade Ennis Hospital after a HSE committee asked for a value-for-money report on the project.
With just over €20 million sanctioned for the project, the costs have now risen to a reported €40 million plus, and the health authorities finance board asked at a meeting last week for the figures to be explained and justified, sources have revealed.
But hospital campaigners say that the underestimate and subsequent report are causing unjustifiable delays, while one senator has raised questions about the viability of the plan.
Senator Timmy Dooley said he has fears that the continuing delaying in proceeding to planning stage with the upgrade are “a smokescreen. I have to ask, is someone within the HSE trying to stymie this development in favour of investment in developing the Regional Hospital in Limerick?”
€20.8 million for the up-grade was sanctioned this year under the Capital Development Works Plan. But now, it is understood, the actual cost of the project stands at a figure closer to €40 million. *1986 – First talks about redevel-
opment of hospital take place.
*2001 – £15 million is pledged for
the redevelopment of the hospital.
Discussions set up to draw up a
hospital development control plan.
*2006 – The Tanaiste and Minis-
ter for Health, Mary Harney, signs
off on the €20 million needed
for the development to proceed to
planning stage.
*June 2006 – Finalised plans were
due to be ready to submit through
the planning process.
*July 2006 – The HSE go into dis-
“This is bureaucracy gone mad. Someone within the bowels of the HSE has managed to complicate a plan which should be very straightforward,” said Senator Dooley.
A spokesman for the Ennis Hospital Development Committee said that the further delay “just isn’t good enough. It’s nearly six years since €20 million was committed for this plan. With inflation running as it is and changes to the original plan, anyone who thought it was going to come in at the same price now is living on a different planet.”
The spokesman warned that people in Clare “will not tolerate this. This is going to cost votes and all the candidates will have to make a firm commitment to the provision of a first-class hospital service at Ennis.”
But Deputy Tony Kileen said that he is “confident the costings will stand up to scrutiny.” He added that he doesn’t believe the need for extra funding will delay anything. “Very little of the money will actually need to be paid this year or even next year,” Deputy Kileen said. But he added that he would be “happier if reliable information were more readily available from the HSE.”
There was no comment available from the HSE. cussions on the increased costings
of the project.
*August 2006 – The HSE finance
controllers seeks a value-for-mon-
ey audit of the new costings. *September – The plan gets ap-
proval.
*Late 06/early07 – Contractors
come on-site
*Late 08/early 09 – Final fit-out is
completed.