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By Lisa O’Donnell

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called for an immediate suspension of all decisions relating to the construction of the new Children’s Hospital at St James’, Clonmel, pending an investigation into how one of the architectural firms chosen to design the new hospital was selected.

Deputy McGrath spoke as anger mounts among parents and groups advocating sick children over the fact that the contract has been assigned to O’Connell Mahon Architects, despite the fact that its previous project for a proposed Children’s Hospital at the Mater was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.

“I am being contacted on an almost daily basis by parents and groups who are stunned by the lack of high level engagement on this matter,” he said “Not only have the architects of the disastrous Mater debacle been reassigned to this new project, but now the very same road engineers who contributed to the controversy are re-involved.”

Organisations such as the Jack and Jill Foundation are totally ‘bewildered’ at this latest turn of events which Deputy McGrath says will ‘do nothing to inspire confidence or offer any hope to the many sick and vulnerable children’ who have to rely on this new facility in Clonmel.

He added that he is seeking ways to bring the matter before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee given that the professional fees paid out for the now defunct Mater proposal have already led to a loss of between €40-50 million.

“What is most disheartening about all of this is the near total absence of consultation with the parents of these sick children who know what is and what is not required. What is certainly not required is to bring back in the same chefs who made a dogs dinner of the Mater project,” he concluded.

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