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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

National paediatric hospital delays

Summary

Deputy Farrelly highlighted yet another delay in the national paediatric hospital, with extensive snagging and a poor delivery record, and asked about the impact on workforce planning. The Minister said delivery responsibility lies with the contractor, whom the State is paying to complete on time, and that the hospital development board is holding it to account.

We have seen the media reporting today that there is yet another delay in the delivery of the national paediatric hospital. This is the 16th delay. Over 2,100 bedrooms are currently not compliant. There are 63,000 issues on the snag list. When does the Government envisage that the keys of the paediatric hospital will be given over? What impact will yet another delay have in terms of workforce planning and development for patients who will be coming to the hospital?

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy. As I said clearly, responsibility for delivering this hospital is with the contractor. The State - the Deputy and me, and the people we represent - is paying the contractor to complete the contract on time. It would be very helpful for everybody to be aware that we together are paying a contractor that is not delivering its commitments on time for this State and for all the people in this State. It is essential that it does. I am holding the contractor seriously to account for the dates that it sets and it moves. Our hospital development board is trying to hold that contractor to account. The Government is clearly doing that by articulating it in this way. It would be fantastic if other Deputies could make it very clear that the contractor has a responsibility to the State, in terms of this project and every other project in which it is engaged, and to its international reputation as well.

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