Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
322. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the construction of the National Children's Hospital is progressing in accordance with projections; when the hospital will be completed and commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/24]
View answerThe New Children’s Hospital (NCH) project comprises development of the main hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, and two Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals. Both satellite centres are now open and successfully delivering the new model of ambulatory and urgent care for children and adolescents in the Greater Dublin Area.
As of January 2024, the project is over 90% complete against contract value. Typically, in a building of this size and scale, the last 10% is the slowest to complete. The technical integration of the many systems to control and operate the building, as well as the completion of key areas and rooms to the clinical standards required are ongoing. Medical equipment is being installed and in late December 2023 the heating system was turned on. The 300 inpatient bedrooms, 60 critical care beds and 20 CAMHS beds are taking shape with fit out of fixtures, ensuites, joinery and medical equipment progressing.
The hospital's elevated helipad, to be shared with St James’s Hospital, is complete. It is the first elevated helipad in the country and will have rapid and safe access to key areas of the hospital including Critical Care, Theatres and the Emergency Department.
The areas for pre/post primary and third level education, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, collaboration spaces and a library for up to 2,500 under- and postgraduate healthcare professionals are also taking shape.
Last September, the main contractor set out its programme for the completion of the construction and fit-out of the hospital by Q4 2024. This programme remains under review by the Employer's Representative (ER) and the NPHDB to determine its validity and compliance with the contract. The ER has issued comprehensive comments on the Programme and a detailed response is awaited from the contractor to support its programme.
The NPHDB considers that Q4 2024 is achievable if there is an improvement in resourcing and activity on the site by the main contractor. It is engaging with BAM to secure and maintain an uplift in productivity. The NPHDB is doing everything it can to hold the contractor accountable for its delivery programme under the contract.
Once substantial completion is achieved, Children’s Health Ireland will undertake the operational commissioning to prepare the hospital for opening.
Whilst there is a focus on the capital project and its delivery, we must not lose sight of the fact that the NCH project will deliver world class facilities that will improve and prioritise medical outcomes for the nation’s sickest children, while bringing about transformational change to the delivery of healthcare for the children of Ireland for generations to come.
