Board minutes lead to fresh NCH concerns
Labour Health spokesperson. Alan Kelly TD has described reported delays to the National Children’s Hospital as startling.
Deputy Kelly said:
“I’m not surprised to read in today’s newspapers that there are further delays to the construction of the National Children’s Hospital and the satellite campus in Tallaght.
“What is massively concerning from reading the minutes is that it is now suggested that the design of the hospital is to be altered. We need to know what reasoning behind this is and why the design needs to be changed while construction is underway? The changes must be significant if the National Paediatrics Hospital Development Board sees fit to put €15 million aside for claims defence.
”A difference in opinion as to how the building of the hospital at St. James’ should continue between the contractor and the board is a massive warning sign for more trouble down the road.
“We are still none the wiser as to if the hospital will open in time, how much it will exactly cost and if all the satellite campuses will open on schedule. It is not good enough.
“We all want this world-class National Children’s Hospital, but why must it be the world’s most expensive hospital ever built? This is all down to a lack of political oversight. Fine Gael have overspent massively and failed miserably to monitor rising costs.
“The HSE and the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure must now give a progress report on the NCH, outlining the number of claims put in by the contractor, when they plan to deal with them, new delivery timelines and new cost projections.”