Robert Watt to tell PAC greater cost controls being introduced following hospital overspend
In his opening statement to PAC, Mr Watt says: “Government will no longer pre-commit to major bespoke projects until there is 100 per cent clarity on tendered costs. The Government will approve major projects to be evaluated and designed, but there will be no final commitment until after the tendering process is complete.
“It is not possible to know the price of a capital project with a high level of certainty until there is a full design spec, planning if necessary has been achieved, and the project has been competitively tendered. “Government will not commit to projects until the design and price are clear. This could delay projects, but will ensure greater cost certainty.”The statement also says that a number of profile projects have “highlighted issues with the performance of advisory firms”.
“We will link payments to advisory firms to clear performance standards. We will bring in performance standards linked in future contracts with those firms.”PAC chairman Sean Fleming said a new agency should be established to control and oversee spending of the €140 billion national development plan. He pointed in particular to the fact that management of each project in the plan was overseen by each line department, with no overarching supervision.
“My own view as chairman stems from over 20 years ago when the national debt was unmanageable, and we set up the National Treasury Management Agency to manage national debt.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Met Eireann has issued another weather warning for 18 counties | JOE.ieMet Eireann has issued another weather warning for 18 counties
Read more »