Health Minister warns that children's hospital delays will cost the state heavily
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says the postponed opening of the national children’s hospital will add substantial expenses for the State.
Construction of the national children’s hospital in Dublin, begun in 2016, has been delayed far beyond its 2022 deadline, with costs soaring from €987 million to €2.24 billion. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill warned that missing the 30 April hand-over date would impose considerable extra costs on the State and postpone critical paediatric services. In a letter to Bam Ireland’s chairman Henk Rottinghuis, she highlighted the risk to downstream mobilisation by Children’s Health Ireland.
The Department of Health blames Bam’s failure to properly manage and resource the project, noting that the revised 2024 budget includes contingency for legitimate claims. Bam counters that the programme is in the final stages of commissioning and certification, and that reduced on-site personnel is normal at this point.
Why it matters
The delay pushes back vital paediatric care and adds significant financial burden to Ireland’s health system.
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