asked the Minister for Health if he will state (1) the total fees paid to architects, consultants and quantity surveyors in connection with plans and specifications for the Cork regional hospital and regional maternity hospital to the present date; (2) the amount of these fees paid for plans, surveys and consultations which are now scrapped; (3) the estimated total of fees to be paid to architects, quantity surveyors and consultant engineers before these hospitals are finally built, and (4) if he is prepared to suggest any means of reducing this sum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fees in Respect of Cork Hospitals.
The information required by the Deputy is as follows:—(1) £17,285, (2) £2,800, (3) on the basis of the estimates of the cost of the two hospitals submitted by the local authority, the total of fees to be paid to architects, quantity surveyors and consulting engineers in respect of the two hospitals is estimated as £200,000. (4) I am at present considering the possibility of effecting economies which would bring about a reduction in the total cost of the hospitals.
Not a sod has been turned in one of the regional hospitals that is under way since 1932.
Tell the local authority about it.
Did the Minister say £200,000?
I did.
That is a bit flabbergasting.
The Department could do a lot about it.