Watchdog warns on budget overruns

THE head of the Dáil’s public spending watchdog has warned senior civil servants that he will not stand for budget overruns on major projects.

Huge overspends on building and transport projects were highlighted in last week’s mid-term review of the National Development Plan, by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), and the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report five weeks ago.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman John Perry TD said the same high standards of accountability expected of financial institutions should apply within the expenditure of State funding.