OnoMatopee schreef op 30 mei 2024 16:48:
The expected completion of the National Children’s Hospital has been delayed again, a committee is to be told.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is to inform the Public Accounts Committee of the delay during an appearance on Thursday.
The original substantial completion date was for October 29 this year, but developer BAM has “indicated a further delay” to this date, TDs are to be told.
The board is expected to say that “all possible contractual levers are being applied to secure certainty” and that since March 2020, BAM has changed its forecast completion date “multiple times”.
The total spent on the hospital is 2.2 billion euros, after the government approved more than 500 million euros in additional spending in February.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said that the 500 million euros was expected to be the “last significant” payment and said some of the costs of the hospital are being “vigorously contested”.
The amount includes millions of euros for an expected pay-out to the contractor over ongoing disputes, as well as other contingency funding.
The board has said the main driver of increasing costs has been the ongoing delay to the completion of the hospital.
Representatives from the board, the HSE and officials from the Department of Health are due to appear before the committee at 9.30am on Thursday.