Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
40. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the new National Children's Hospital is expected to open; what the final cost of the project will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40710/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe timely completion of the New Children’s Hospital (NCH) is a Government priority. Everything possible is being done to ensure the project is completed as soon as possible on behalf of children, young people and their families.
Works are progressing on the main site, with the construction and equipping phase now over 90% complete against contract value. The major focus of 2023 continues to be the internal fit out and commissioning of mechanical and electrical services. The installation of medical equipment has begun, and landscaping is underway in the 14 garden and outdoor spaces.
Substantial completion is informed by the main contractor, BAM’s, programme of works. Once substantial completion is achieved, the hospital will be handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for a period of operational commissioning, (approximately 6 months), to support opening. This will ensure the hospital is ready for patients and staff.
The last programme update received from BAM suggested substantial completion could be achieved by May 2024. As construction progress has been significantly behind BAM’s own programme for timely completion of this critical project, this programme has now expired. The NPHDB and Employer’s Representative (ER - the independent body responsible for enforcing the contract) have been engaging with BAM for months, seeking a compliant programme, outlining how it will complete the final 10% of works.
An updated programme was received on 18th July 2023. This is currently under review by the ER, to determine compliance with the contract. The programme outlines how BAM propose to complete over 40,0000 separate activities at the hospital. Given this level of detail the review could take up to three months to complete.
NPHDB will not be commenting on the programme details until the ER has determined the programme’s compliance. In the meantime, NPHDB continues to engage with BAM to increase productivity on the project.
In 2018, the previous Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This budget has not been depleted, €1.35bn has been drawn down to date. Additional costs in relation to the integration and transfer of the services of the three children’s hospitals to the new sites brings the total cost of the programme to €1.73 bn. As the project will take longer than expected, it will cost more as a result. There were costs not comprehended within the original 2018 budget that need to be addressed, including the impact of the once in a generation increases in construction inflation. Additional funding requests are subject to robust scrutiny and review and will be brought to Government for sanction in due course.
While much focus has been on costs and challenges faced by the project, it is important to note that once open the NCH will provide world class facilities to its patients. NCH is unprecedented in scale, facilities, and technological advancement. It will be transformational in how we treat and deliver care to children and their families. The hospital has been designed and constructed to be as enduring and adaptable as possible. It is a building for the next 75-100 years, rather than the 25-30 years of other hospitals internationally.
