€27m to upgrade hospital, which had ‘no patients’

The HSE has spent more than €27m on refurbishing a hospital that had “no patients” in the building when TDs visited unexpectedly last year — €7m more than initially planned.

The significant overspend was highlighted by the Dáil’s public accounts committee yesterday, leading to opposition claims that the money should have been re-routed to other more pressing areas.

Speaking during a committee meeting, Labour health spokesman Alan Kelly said the issue related to Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel, Co Tipperary.