The Daily Star Ireland
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill anticipates that the National Children’s Hospital’s total expenditure, including commissioning, will approach €2.24 billion, with an operational launch slated for 2026.
In a discussion on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Minister Carroll MacNeill highlighted that the government has disbursed €48 million out of a contested €853 million in claims.
“I understand it generates headlines and may incite some concern, but of the €853 million claimed, €48 million has been allocated,” she remarked.
She further contextualized the expenditure: “Our annual health budget is nearly €24 billion. So, this is a one-time €2.3 billion investment for a hospital that will serve us for a century.”
Staffing Challenges
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald expressed apprehensions regarding potential staffing shortages at the new facility.
She referenced a letter from surgeons warning that the hospital might face understaffing “from day one,” feeling their concerns have been overlooked.
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged that debates often arise during the commissioning and staffing phases of new hospitals.
He emphasized that significant efforts have been made to ensure “a smooth transition,” though he conceded the undertaking is “on a scale never experienced before.”
Projected Opening in 2026
When questioned about potential delays, Minister Carroll MacNeill reaffirmed that the hospital is expected to open in 2026.
She clarified that this timeline isn’t a postponement but accounts for a “six-to-nine-month commissioning phase.”
“This phase involves installing surgical equipment, setting up beds, equipping laboratories, and training 4,000 staff transitioning from three different hospitals. While off-site preparations have begun, on-site activities, including training in a new digital healthcare system, will take between six and nine months,” she explained.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is collaborating with the construction firm BAM to secure up to three months of early access before the substantial completion date of June 30, 2025, aiming to mitigate potential delays.
Commissioning Details
Upon achieving substantial completion, the hospital will be handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for an operational commissioning period expected to last 6-9 months.
This phase encompasses the installation of equipment such as beds and laboratories, as well as comprehensive staff training.
The NPHDB oversees the hospital’s construction, while CHI will manage its operations, unifying the three existing children’s hospitals under a single governance structure.
Transition Timing Considerations
Minister Carroll MacNeill emphasized the risks associated with relocating patients during winter months.
“We plan to transfer children from Temple Street, Crumlin, and Tallaght over a seven-to-ten-day period. This involves discharging as many patients as possible and then transporting the most critically ill children via ambulance to the new facility. International evidence advises against undertaking such moves during high-risk periods,” she noted.
She added that hospitals experience increased activity from November to March, with higher staff absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses and a surge in respiratory diseases among patients.
“As a parent, I wouldn’t want the Health Minister to jeopardize my sick child’s well-being during such a period,” she concluded.
The National Children’s Hospital project has faced multiple delays and budget escalations since its inception. Originally estimated at €650 million in 2015, the projected cost has now risen to €2.24 billion. The hospital’s completion date has been postponed 14 times, with the current substantial completion anticipated by June 2025. Following this, a commissioning phase of 6-9 months is planned, setting the expected opening for 2026. The project has also been marred by disputes between the NPHDB and BAM over financial claims and construction delays.
