Children’s hospital faces 18th delay as BAM misses latest completion deadline

Repeated delays deepen concern as contractor misses April target, with disputes over staffing, costs, and project timelines intensifying

A construction worker at the construction site of the new National Children's Hospital in Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The completion date of the new National Children’s Hospital is set to be delayed for the 18th time, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) said it met with Bam on Tuesday, where the contractor confirmed it will miss the April 30 completion date.

“This is obviously a huge disappointment, as Bam has already delayed this SC [substantial completion] date 18 times,” David Gunning said, the head of the NPHDB.

Mr Gunning said the board has sought an updated completion date from the developer, which is expected within 15 working days.

He said the NPHDB will focus on securing early access to areas of the hospital.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane said nobody ever believed the completion date would be met.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Bam said it was “not accurate” that the contractor has continuously missed completion dates.

“The programme has evolved in response to instructed design changes and additional scope during the project. Each updated completion date reflects these new changes and the resulting need to reprogramme the works, rather than any failure of performance,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Gunning told the committee that Bam needs to deliver 400 rooms each week.

“As of March 20, 3,726 of the 5,728 rooms have been offered by Bam to the design team to validate compliance with the contract standard,” Mr Gunning is due to say.

“As of March 20, 2,854 of the 5,728 rooms have been validated as meeting the contract standard."

Mr Gunning said Bam could face €40m in damages due to delays to the project.

He said the NPHDB is “exercising all rights and remedies” to ensure the construction firm completes the project.

Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock said the committee had received its answer on whether the hospital would open in 2027, given the confirmed delays.

Ms Sherlock questioned Mr Gunning on whether he had believed Bam’s previous estimate that the hospital would be completed by April 30.

Mr Gunning said he has “very little confidence” in dates put forward by Bam, adding that he would be “naïve” to believe the contractor.

However, he said the project was “inching” towards completion.

Under questioning from committee chair Padraig Rice, Mr Gunning said around 560 staff are on average working on site at the hospital.

“Our view is that the resources have been a significant issue right throughout the entirety of this programme,” he said.

When Mr Rice asked if Bam had committed to increasing staffing levels, Mr Gunning said he received correspondence from the contractor at 11.40pm on Tuesday stating there are sufficient workers on site.

“We don’t accept that,” Mr Gunning said.

Questions were raised about claims by Bam for additional payments, which the NPHDB disputes. Mr Gunning said most of the money claimed by Bam stems from 18 extensions of time, amounting to €926m.

Bam said the claims relate to material changes to the hospital design, which the NPHDB has rejected.

“There’s been no material change to the design of the hospital. The number of rooms hasn’t changed, the façade hasn’t changed, the floor area hasn’t changed, the number of boilers, the number of air handling units, the number of ventilation units has not changed one bit,” said Phelim Devine, the NPHDB’s project director.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government should not remove pressure from Bam to complete the hospital, after it was put to him that it is unlikely the hospital will open until next year.

“I’m not willing to release or relieve the pressure in any way, shape or form on the contractor that has responsibility for delivering that hospital,” Mr Harris said.

“But we are within touching distance now and we have to make sure that every day that pressure is maintained to get this hospital completed because it is going to make a transformational difference in terms of children’s healthcare in Ireland.”

Bam rejected the NPHDB’s claim that there were only 560 staff on average on site.

"The project continues to be resourced to support the work currently underway, with specialist teams continuing to complete the remaining programme. We track daily on-site attendance, which currently stands at approximately 850-900 per day," the spokesperson said.