Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 30 May 2024

Public Accounts Committee

Financial Statements 2022: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

9:30 am

Mr. David Gunning:

I wish to respond on a couple of points the Deputy raised. This date has been provided and, yes, we need the substantiating data so we can really understand what the position is. It is also important to point out there are about 1,150 people turning up to work every day at the site, and we have to acknowledge their efforts. We are making progress but it is not at the level we would like. The question is whether it will be at the level that will deliver the February 2025 date. I cannot guarantee what the date will be. As you get to the end of the project, the window closes. That is the nature of these things. I cannot say when that window will close, but we are certainly getting closer as the work progresses. Members have seen the photographs of the good and the bad. We submitted to the committee pictures of areas that are finished and we then have areas that are still in progress. We have to eat this one bite at a time to get it closed and done.