Costs skyrocket due to delays at Children’s Hospital

Construction of the new Children’s Hospital has been delayed again and may not open until 2024.

The Public Accounts Committee also heard today that costs are increasing, although the development board did not disclose an exact figure as it is communicating with the Health Department about costs and timelines.

Covid-related closures, along with various construction delays and disputes, have delayed the project.

The executive director of the National Pediatric Hospital Development Board, David Gunning, told the committee that the project is now another ten months behind schedule.

He said the board has submitted an updated report to the Department of Health and that deadlines and costs will be reinstated once agreed.

Mr. Gunning said that in terms of value, only 20% of the project has been completed.

The hospital was previously expected to cost 1.4 billion euros to build and another 300,000 euros for equipment and IT.

When asked if the project would exceed 2 billion euros, Gunning said he could not provide guidance on the matter.

700 claims from contractors have been submitted for an amount of 300 million euros in associated costs.

Gunning said these were an excessively high number of claims, but said they were being vigorously defended.

Sinn Féin’s Imelda Munster said there was no definite time frame for completion or costs.

“All we know is more delays, more claims and more cases in higher courts and rising costs.”

She said the board made a “total mess” and that it had been a “total mess”.

He said the project could become “the most expensive children’s hospital in the world.”