Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter. I know he has a long-standing interest in, and knowledge of, it from his time on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. This is a project of major importance. It is one of the reasons I wanted to be here myself to deal with this matter. We need to see the development of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH. I welcome the opportunity Senator Boyhan has provided me with to outline the current position with regard to this major capital development. I agree with his analysis of the situation that while there is currently incredible care, attention and amazing patient outcomes in that hospital that are really benefitting people, the current building is simply not fit for purpose. It is not fair to patients or to the staff.

I am pleased to advise the Senator that the HSE has informed me that it has instructed its solicitors on the transfer of lands at the NRH campus. The HSE has indicated to me that the transfer of lands could be completed by year end. The current status of the project is as follows. Procurement of the works contractor has commenced. Submissions have been received from interested contractors and these are currently being evaluated. The selected contractors will be invited to tender next month, November 2016, and it would be expected that the completed tenders should be returned in January 2017. Following evaluation of these tenders it is projected that construction will commence in quarter 1 of next year. Some enabling works, as the Senator will probably be aware from his visit there, have been contracted separately and will commence in quarter four of this year.