Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. John Pollock:

One of the questions was about environmental monitoring, which is a condition of our planning permission for An Bord Pleanála. It relates to noise, dust and vibrations. Those costs are all embedded in the contractor's prices, as are road-sweeping and window cleaning. He does not price them separately. They are just part of the duties and responsibilities. Those issues are by and large being handled through the project management committee which has representation from local residents, three local councillors, Dublin City Council, ourselves and the contractors. That is when those issues get teased out, including the issue of car parking that has been raised. Dublin City Council has undertaken to go back and report on those issues. We do not control car parking and charge rates.

With regard to the Ceannt Fort and O'Reilly Avenue, it was an issue that was brought before the High Court probably 18 months ago and we have been written to by the solicitors on behalf of the residents and told we are not to speak about those matters. They say it is their business and they do not want us speaking about it. We are resolving it and the issues are drawing to a close. Hopefully we will have a proposal. I have been directed by their advisers not to talk about them.