FF slams €950m hospital contract

THE awarding of the €950m contract to build the new national children’s hospital at Dublin’s St James’ Hospital has been criticised by the main opposition party.

On top of the €950m, the provision of IT and hospital equipment is expected to cost the State at least a further €200m.

The contract was won by BAM Ireland, headed by CEO Theo Cullinane, which had made the lowest bid out of four shortlisted competitors for the project.

BAM is a large construction consortium which previously came to prominence for building the onshore Corrib pipeline for Shell.

Reacting to the news of the awarding of the contract, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health Billy Kelleher questioned the decision-making process by health chiefs, which has seen delays turn into cost over-runs.

‘The failure to give leadership, and execute this badly needed development has led to additional time delays, leading to rising construction and related costs,’ he argued.

‘The minimum cost of the new hospital will now reach more than €1.2bn when ancillary costs are included.

‘That is the vast majority of the HSE’s capital budget swallowed up,’ said Mr Kelleher.

He added: ‘It’s now very unlikely that the hospital will be open and treating children by 2021, despite what the minister and his officials promise.’