A major regional infrastructure project has been found to have surpassed its original construction budget by over €20 million, according to information released today.
The Ballinasloe to Athlone Section of the M6 Motorway, completed in 2009, was originally tendered at €79.1 million but finished at a total price of over €100 million when complete.
According to information released to the Irish Times today, the figure is part of an overall national overspend of €850 million on major road infrastructure products.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland is responsible for large-scale road infrastructure projects and tenders the work out to private contractors, usually for the lowest possible price.
There have been calls for the TII to move away from the practice of contractor selection solely by price.
Local Senator Eugene Murphy says while unforeseen circumstances can cause overspends, oversight must always be maintained to ensure transparency:
