HEALTH MINISTER JENNIFER Carroll MacNeill said it makes “absolutely no sense” that the construction of the new National Children’s Hospital has not been finished on time. 

Speaking at the National Rehabilitation Hospital conference in Dun Laoghaire this morning, she said early access to the hospital was meant to be provided two days ago.

She added that this is just the latest deadline to be missed, confirming early access to the site was also meant to be provided in September and November. 

“It makes absolutely no sense to me why it hasn’t just been finished on time,” she said, adding she would like to get into the hospital before Christmas but that this is dependent on the contractors.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill outside the new hospital. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

When pushed on how this is a project under the management of the Department of Health, she said: 

“At the end of the day, I cannot go in and take a hospital that isn’t finished. 

“I cannot go in and take a hospital and say, ‘CHI, you should move your equipment into this hospital that still has building equipment in it, and that hasn’t been finished’.

“That would not be the right thing for me to do. BAM has offered us different parts of the hospital that make no sense; Three rooms up here, or 10 rooms in there. Offering access in a way that doesn’t actually help or deliver.”

The health minister said she “very much hopes” that children can be seen in the new hospital in 2026. However, she said: 

I am subject to the people who hold the keys and who are finishing the project.

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Carroll MacNeill told the media that BAM International has now brought “problem solvers” and “their ultimate fixers” to Ireland to help the progress the project, something the minister said she believes is “well overdue”.

A statement to The Journal from the contractors said:

“BAM remains fully committed to delivering this project to the highest standards, working closely with all stakeholders to actively manage the challenges involved and to secure the earliest possible opening date for the children of Ireland.”