Work to start on €300m maternity hospital

CONSTRUCTION of the €300m National Maternity Hospital on the St Vincent’s University (SVUH) hospital campus in Dublin is set to begin in the next 12 months after years of intense mediation to secure Ireland’s first co-located maternity hospital.

Approval has been given to issue a letter of award to a contractor to conduct aspergillus protection works on SVUH’s Elm Park site.

Aspergillus is a fungus that can cause significant health problems when breathed in during certain construction work.

Last week, in her final charter day address, National Maternity Hospital Master Dr Rhona Mahony, revealed that approval has been given to issue the letter of award to a contractor for the protection works.

Mahony also revealed that approval has been given to issue tender documents for the pharmacy and car park works associated with the new hospital. Tenders for the main hospital building, which has been approved by the planning authorities, are expected to issue by the summer.

The €300m build will be one of the largest contracts issued by the State which is also building a new National Children’s Hospital.

“Construction is expected to start later this year on these [main] construction works and so, after all, the building begins,” said Mahony.

Under the terms of an agreement mediated by Kieran Mulvey, former director general of the Workplace Relations Commission, the operation of the current NMH will transfer to a new company overseen by a board. The reserved powers set out in the Mulvey agreement gives the new NMH company board clinical and operational independence including control of its budget, building and appointment of personnel.

Health Minister Simon Harris has insisted that the State will own the new NMH and will be listed as an asset on the State’s balance sheet.

A full legal agreement has yet to be finalised, and Harris has not confirmed if the agreement will involve a lease or licence or if it will be governed by a lien on the facility.