Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Byrne and all the other Senators for their contributions on this matter. I acknowledge that the NCH project has faced extensive challenges. It is an extremely ambitious and complex project. It has faced unanticipated delays and it has been impacted by costs outside of the original budget. However, after months of engagement with the main contractor, BAM, a comprehensive programme for completion was received by the NPHDB on 18 July. The Senator is correct that in the last 12 months BAM only achieved 67% of its planned output and it fell as low as 34% at certain times. That is a concern. The programmes is under review to determine its compliance with the contract. If compliant, we will then have a date for substantial completion, which we will expect the contractor to meet.

It must not be forgotten what this project will ultimately deliver, namely, a world-class hospital that is unprecedented in scale, facilities and technological advancement. The project as a whole is transformational. I know everyone accepts that. It is important to ensure that lessons learned from previous projects inform all further investment decisions. As we move forward through the tender stages of the national maternity hospital project, the Minister is satisfied that we have the correct mechanisms and processes in place to navigate and avoid, as much as we can, many of the challenges faced by the national children's hospital project.