Tánaiste takes responsibility following 15th pushback on children's hospital completion

Speaking in the Dáil, Simon Harris said: 'I am responsible, of course. I am responsible for bringing the proposal to the Cabinet and for recommending we proceed'

The National Children's Hospital on the ground of St James' Hospital has had its completion date pushed back again, sparking anger from opposition TDs in the Dáíl. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has taken responsibility for the National Children's Hospital after being accused in the Dáil of "declaring open season on the public finances" when he signed the project contract.

Members of the opposition rounded on the Fine Gael leader after it was revealed that completion of the hospital has now been pushed back for the 15th time, with a new date set for September.

However, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said the hospital board still "does not even have confidence in that date" and moved to blame Mr Harris.

"The Tánaiste personally signed the contract for the National Children's Hospital without even having a finalised plan in place," Mr Doherty said. 

"It was a case of build as you go. That is why Bam has had the State over a barrel for the last eight years. The Tánaiste's Government is now blaming the construction company.

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"When the Tánaiste signed that contract, he declared open season on the public finances — showing complete incompetence. Anybody who has signed a contract, whether to build a house or just to replace a kitchen, will know that you need a plan in place," he added.

95% complete

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said nobody is arguing about the quality of the hospital, instead it is the price and the length of time it has taken to deliver that is the issue.

He accused the Tánaiste of "blame-shifting" in relation to who is responsible for the cost and time overruns, and went on to dub him "Simon 'It Wasn't Me' Harris".

Responding, Mr Harris said: "I am responsible, of course. I am responsible for bringing the proposal to the Cabinet and for recommending we proceed. 

The easiest thing to do in politics if you do not want to ever get into any challenging situation is to never make a decision

Mr Harris said the hospital is over 95% complete with technical commissioning is now under way and it would be a world-class facility.

"We are going to be responsible for transforming children's healthcare. We are going to be responsible for making sure that parents who slept on cold, hard floors in Crumlin Hospital last night can have bed facilities," he added.

"We are going to be responsible for children having single ensuite rooms. We are going to be responsible for providing a health service that will have more theatres than ever before, have open spaces for our children, have improved medical outcomes and that will tackle waiting lists.

"Nobody gets everything right in politics and many lessons have been learned."