National Children's Hospital completion date delayed

An April 30 completion date for the national children’s hospital won't be met, the Oireachtas health committee was told.

​This morning, David Gunning of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board informed the committee that the completion date could not be reached, and a new date has not yet been established.

Although a new date is expected to be provided within two weeks.

​Gunning told the committee that BAM Ireland, which is leading the construction of the hospital, could not complete the project by this date.

​The completion date has been delayed 18 times so far, and David Funning said this was a delay of around 40 months.

​The hospital will comprise seven levels, and in late 2025, BAM provided access to three levels.

​Children’s Health Ireland’s Lucy Nugent has said that they hope to open the hospital around seven months after they receive the keys.

​Chair of the committee, Pádraig Rice, had said that this means the new hospital might not be open until summer or autumn 2027.

​BAM Ireland has said that the delays reflect responses to design changes and evolving into additional scope for the project.

​They aim to continue to work closely with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Children’s Health Ireland to make sure the hospital is delivered safely and quickly.