Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has said ongoing delays and increased costs at the planned new National Children’s Hospital is a source of “real frustration” and that “children waiting for care are paying the price”. 

Following a report in the Irish Times today, Teachta Cullinane said:

“The fiasco that is the building of the new National Children’s Hospital rumbles on and on. The dysfunction at the heart of this project has its origins in the original contract and is a product of failures on the part of former Ministers for Health Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris and now Stephen Donnelly. 

“The open conflict between the main contractor and the board responsible for delivering the project is a further sign of this dysfunction and is leading to increased delays and escalating costs. 

“Every completion date given has come and gone. Every cost projection has been exceeded. Every deadline set has been missed. And yet further delays and greater costs are now inevitable. 

“This hospital should already be built and treating children. The hope that this hospital will be finally treating children by the summer of next year is fading fast. 

“It is impossible to have any confidence in the information we are receiving on costs or delivery. The truth is we have no idea what the final cost will be and when this hospital will finally open its doors. 

“While the taxpayer is on the hook for greater costs, those losing out the most are the tens of thousands of children waiting for care and those children who have procedures and appointments cancelled due to a lack of capacity. 

“There is a responsibility on the main contractor to deploy adequate resources to the project and complete the hospital as quickly as possible. I call on them to do so. 

“There is a responsibility on the paediatric development board to resolve disputes, protect the taxpayer and ensure the project is being delivered also. We need to see greater collaboration between all stakeholders. 

“However ultimate responsibility rests with Government. The Taoiseach failed in his duty as Minister for Health to deal with the scandal of delays and increasing costs in delivering this hospital. He is failing again as Taoiseach.

“He needs to make completing and opening this hospital a major priority for the sake of the children who desperately need improved services.”