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HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has said the National Children’s Hospital is on schedule to open in 2023, despite reports that the project may be delayed.
Harris said the hospital’s construction is “complex” but claimed it is on track to open as planned.
“At various stages, some bits will be behind schedule, some bits will be ahead of schedule, but overall they remain on schedule to deliver the hospital in 2022 and open the hospital in 2023.
“This is the most complex construction project ever undertaken in our health service. It’s probably one of the largest construction projects underway right across Europe at the moment,” Harris told reporters today.
“I don’t accept that there will be delays,” he added.
Harris noted that Fred Barry, the chair of the board responsible for building the new hospital, has said that “some parts of the project will be ahead of schedule, some parts will be behind, but overall they remain committed to bringing the project in on time in 2022″.
According to the Irish Times, an internal HSE report has warned that the “capital project for the new children’s hospital is facing delays to the construction programme which could impact critical timelines if mitigation measures are not taken”.
The document reportedly stated that a revised programme of work is being compiled.
‘Huge progress’
When asked about potential delays to the project, Harris said “huge progress has been made” on the hospital.
“I’ve stood in the site at St James’s, I’ve stood in the building, which I think is now up to the second floor, huge progress has been made.”
The project has been mired in controversy over spiralling costs – the final bill is expected to be over €1.7 billion, an increase of €450 million since the government first backed the project in April 2017. It was estimated to cost about €750 million in 2014.
However, opposition parties have warned that the total cost could exceed €2 billion.
“We’re building this hospital, no one will regret building this hospital. It will be delivered, it will open in 2023 and it will conclude construction in 2022,” Harris said.
He made the comments at the launch of the Vaccine Alliance in Dublin today.
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Hands up who believes him
Simon Harris the man who wants to control social media.!!
The initial price was €790m. You’re letting them off the hook by only mentioning the later ‘new initial’ price of €1.2bn
The private hospital will be finished first the private hospital been built on the public’s children’s hospital grounds!!! Harris is like Hogan another waster and a bluffer..
Whose going to staff it, the tooth fairies ?
Ohhhh no it won’t!
Lol, what a joke, every bit of it,
Will it fook
And who will get the sack if it doesn’t come in on time? And what exactly is the plan for staffing this new hospital? We can’t even fill the current consultant vacancies we have in Ireland, never mind try to attract (or indeed attract back) the pediatric subspecialties we will need. Why isn’t anyone talking about the cutbacks being imposed on the planned frontline services in the hospital due to “the over-run”? Theaters already being closed before opening, equipment being scratched off the purchase list- all of which will negatively impact the quality of care these children can receive, while those who caused the overrun will continue on unscathed?
Or will we all just forget about it and re-elect the same who sit on their hands again? Ah sure, he’s local. #CareCantWait
It will be great to have a big expensive new building with no one to staff it.
Some bits ahead snd some bits behind but ignore the risk that it might overrun – and just say I don’t accept it – so when it all falls apart in 2021 the builder will say sue the government as they forced us to cut corners lol
It will probably open but be of no use to the country as there will no medical staff to work in it.
I unfortunately had to spend some time in A&E in a Dublin hospital yesterday visiting someone. I was shocked to see the conditions for the patients. As many as 40 patients huddled into a room on trolleys, many attached to drips. Trolleys practically touching one and other, not a curtain in sight. It’s a disgusting and embarrassing situation for this country. The medical staff in this country is brilliant but must be disgusted with service they can provide. Harris get your head from the sand and address this quick
@Bernie: Thats what you should expect after a major distaster, not on a random Monday. But here-today gone-tomorrow politicians refuse to grasp nettles.
Easy to say when there will be an election before the end of 2023 and he’ll be doing something else.
The picture says it all, No need for word.
Minister Harris’s talks out his arse
Of course it wont. But Harris doesn’t give a Bollox He won’t be in charge of the health service in 2023. Win Win I can say what I like
You hear about the trolly situation but until you actually see it in the flesh. It was degrading for the patients.
“and nothing short of an asteroid”…..oh wait ,they used that one already and we’re now years past that target..lol
Simon says “Clap your hands”
Simon says “Stomp your feet”
Simon says “The National Children’s Hospital will be open in 2023″
ok hes said it! 2025 it is so
Ffg should be embarrassed with the state of our health care system..
Government borrowed €490m from EIB towards National Children’s Hospital in 2017(supposed to cover half estimated costs!), repayable over 25years.So how will Government cover additional extra costs of Hospital? Government department own memo mentioned cost of €2B!
‘Harris says’ is like a really crap game where a player starts every statement with ‘Harris says’ and then proceeds to lie his face off while the other players guess which statements are true and which statements are false.
Nothing about the mess up with lighting and scanners costing millions.
Complete joke funding Not been made available to fund all other positions available in Hospitals because of recruitment Ban (PACK OF CROOKS)
So, still 4 long years away then. Plus added delays once we get to 2023. HURRY UP.
And a failed journalist would know all about ??????????
Hollie folly lolly
Gombeen man
have your say