Board Says National Children's Hospital Can Open In 2024, Brexit & Covid Permitting.

Wednesday, 7 July 2021 09:33

NPHD board is appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee today.

The National Children's Hospital can open as planned in 2024 - unless Brexit and Covid have a further impact.

That's what the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board will tell an Oireachtas Health Committee today.

Kildare North Fine Gael TD, Bernard Durkan, is a member of the committee.

The NPHD board say the contractor, Kill headquartered BAMhas told them it's possible to complete the hospital on schedule - as long as 'external factors' don't interfere.

Sinn Féin's health spokesman, David Cullinane, says he doesn't believe the target will be reached, after delays so far.

The Joint Committee on Health meets to discuss an update on the progress of the National Children’s Hospital with @roinnslainte Children's Health Ireland & National Paediatric Hospital Development Board #seeforyourself https://t.co/OM4LMB9ODv https://t.co/403lHWkRI4
— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) July 7, 2021

Deputy Cullinane, says the final bill will be very significant

The board of the new National Children's Hospital has said it can't give any update on the cost of the project.

However, it's revealed the contractor, Kill based BAM, has made around 900 claims for extra costs with only one per cent resolved.

Nine claims have been resolved at a total cost of 2.5 million euro - with more likely heading for resolution in the High Court.

It means the cost of the project is likely to balloon well beyond the current 1.4 billion euro price tag.

CEO of the Hospital Development Board David Gunning has said the completion date for the hospital has also been moved to December 2023 after Covid delays

https://twitter.com/SeanDefoe/status/1412738837344919553?s=20

However, the board has refused to give TDs an update on how much the project is likely to cost the state.

Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports

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