Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline all meetings attended by the assistant secretary responsible for health infrastructure in his Department in 2022 and 2023 relating to the NCH, listing each meeting, the location and the date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30336/23]
View answerThe Assistant Secretary of the Health Infrastructure Division within my Department, engages with the New Children’s Hospital project’s key stakeholders, including the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and the HSE, on a consistent and continuing basis.
The outcome of these ongoing engagements is that everything possible is being done by key stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of the project.
Substantial completion of the hospital build is informed by the main contractor, BAM’s, construction programme. The NPHDB has advised that the contractor’s programme is under constant review and evaluation. To date BAM has been behind the schedule outlined in its own programme. The contractor’s most recent construction programme was received in September 2022. It outlined that substantial completion could be achieved by March 2024. This programme was subsequently deemed non-compliant by the Employer’s Representative.
BAM’s most recent monthly report for February 2023, issued in April 2023, included a programme update with a substantial completion date for the new children’s hospital of May 2024.
The NPHDB continues to engage with the contractor to secure a compliant programme, as required under the contract, and to get certainty on this substantial completion date.
