Only 27 rooms out of 3,000 that were supposed to be finished by now have been completed at the new National Children’s Hospital.
And the budget for what is one of the most expensive buildings in the history of the State could be heading €700million over budget towards a total cost of over €2billion.
The latest revelations about the capital spending at the new hospital came to light at the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday.
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The project managers of the hospital and the contractors, BAM, are at loggerheads over the spiralling costs, with Sinn Fein health spokesman, Deavid Cullinane, saying it has now descended to a “fist fight.”
The budget for the building of the site in Dublin city centre is pitched at just over €1.4billion, but extra costs have been submitted by BAM for another €700million.
The Government and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board are disputing these claims.
In the meantime, work has slowed on the project with only 27 rooms complete to date, compared to 3,000 that were included in the project’s timeline for completion by this point.
Sinn Fein finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, raised the issue during Questions to the Taoiseach in the Dail.
He said: “Yesterday, I raised the issue of the national children's hospital with the Taoiseach and the need to have it built and open for the children of Ireland.
“It has been delayed time and time again and is now the most expensive hospital in the world. “Government has lost all control and credibility when it comes to the national children's hospital.”
Mr Doherty added: “Will he (the Taoiseach) tell us, once and for all, when this fiasco will end?
“When will it open, how much will it cost and what is the additional money they are now looking for?”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded, saying: “The allocation for the projects is €1.433 billion.
“That allocation was made in 2018 and has not been increased since.
“It will cost more than that, as I said in the Dáil yesterday.
“We cannot say how much more it will cost at this stage because we are disputing the multiple claims for more money made by the contractor.
“It is clear it will be significantly in excess of €1.433 billion.”
A spokesman for BAM hit back at the Government and project board’s claims: “BAM categorically rejects any allegations of under-performance and under-resourcing on the New Children’s Hospital project.
“The firm and our work on the project is fully resourced for the planned work scope.
“Any suggestion that BAM is deliberately not committing adequate resources to the project or is in any way slowing down delivery of the hospital is untrue.
“As the Board told the Committee today, the tireless work of BAM, its project staff and supply chain partners has driven the build phase to more than 85% completion to date.”
