The possible extra charge of €100 million for the construction of the Dublin Port Tunnel has been described as a cock-up by the Progressive Democrats.
In the second PD attack on Government transport policy in recent days, party spokesman, Mr Tom Morrissey, said the likely delay in the project's completion and extra cost proves too many consultants are used in infrastructure projects generally.
He called for a radical overhaul of how infrastructural development is financed.
"The question must be asked of why do these cock-ups, delays and overruns continue? The Port Tunnel, the Luas, the Red Cow roundabout, we keep getting it wrong," Mr Morrissey said.
Dublin City Council has confirmed that the main contractors on the Port Tunnel are seeking to excercise compensation for delays in the project. The Irish Timestoday reports the delays identified by the Nishimatsu Mowlem Irishenco consortium relate to restrcitions on tunelling time imposed by the council.
But the council say the mater will be neogtiated and could not indicate an exact figure.
With the local and European elections less than two months away, the party appears to be distancing itself from its coalition partner on the transport issue.
At the party's annual conference at the weekend PD leader Ms Mary Harney, criticised the slow pace of reform in the sector.
But while Mr Morrissey's comments implicitly criticise the Minster for Transport Mr Brennan, Ms Harney attacked unions, saying competition in public transport and aviation could succumb to a "resistance to change".
Later Ms Harney told the Irish Timesthat her party would reconsider their position in government if transport reform failed.
Her comments angered unions, leading to a walkout by SIPTU at an informal meeting to begin the latest round of social partnership talks yesterday.
Ms Harney today said she did not want her comments misinterpreted.
But the Green Party transport spokesperson, Mr Eamon Ryan, said the PDs were "spoiling for a fight on the privatisation issue".
He accused the PDs of "having it both ways [by] following a clear Government trend of stepping outside of the Cabinet camp when it suits them".
"The Irish people deserve to know exactly who is running transport policy in this country," Mr Ryan said.