Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2013. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the independent employer representative that is engaged to adjudicate on the dispute between the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and a company (details supplied); the number of claims adjudicated on; the value of those claims; the eventual settlement that has been agreed; the number of outstanding claims; and the value of same. [36181/21]
View answerI am aware that the main contractor has submitted a significant number of claims to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), which it alleges are outside the agreed scope of the construction contract. It is entitled to do so. However, the NPHDB has a revised and strengthened process in place for the assessment of claims by the contractor in accordance with the construction contract. It is robustly defending all claims where, in the opinion of the Board and its advisors, there is no contractual entitlement. This is vital to mitigating the risk of escalating costs and delays on this project.
Last month, as part of the NPHDB’s ongoing engagement with BAM, both parties agreed to a period of moratorium on claims. This will allow both parties to dedicate all their energies towards delivering the project as quickly as possible.
As the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.
