Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy to bear with me. There is talk about a different schedule of works. Mr. Tierney will be able to confirm it. I believe BAM has submitted a separate schedule of works that provides for completion in May. However - this is important - the board has not accepted that schedule of works and has not shown it to me. Why would the board do so if it has not accepted it? We all need to be clear. I imagine there is a lot of political unity on this. This project has gone on for too long. Sick children in County Donegal in the Deputy's constituency, in my constituency in County Wicklow and everywhere in our country need this hospital to open and need to be treated in it. Further delays are not acceptable to me. My message to the contractor, the board and CHI is that the Government has not accepted any schedule of works other than the one that has already been agreed, that is for completion in March plus six months.

If we are presented with another schedule of works, due to reasons that cannot be helped such as international supply chain issues due to the war in Ukraine, labour shortages or whatever they may be, which we have no choice but to accept, we will deal with it when it happens. However, my message to the board, the contractor and CHI is that the only schedule that this Government has signed off on provides for completion by March plus six months.