Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2552. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of the national children’s hospital including the facilities at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital; the extent to which the status of the projects are in line with expectation in terms of capacity and progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38110/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The New Children’s Hospital Project, comprising the main hospital at St James’s campus in Dublin, and two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals, is a Government priority.

A major milestone was reached in July 2019, when the Urgent Care Centre at the Connolly Hospital campus opened, providing a new model of ambulatory care for children. Since opening, there has been a 65% reduction in the waiting list for general paediatrics and it is expected that the waiting list will reduce further by the end of 2022.

From 4th January 2021 to 7th May 2021, 2,501 children presented to the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly. 96% of children are discharged home after their visit to the urgent care centre.

The value of new and modern infrastructure in the context of service delivery during a pandemic was demonstrated at “CHI at Connolly”. The building layout at the new facility supported delivery of safe services and, even when busy, allowed for seamless patient flow.

The second paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght Hospital is expected to open towards the end of 2021, following a handover and a period of operational commissioning and equipping. The opening of the second of the three new campuses, the Paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre, “CHI at Tallaght” will be another important milestone in the NCH programme and in the delivery of children’s health services.

The works at Tallaght are progressing at pace. Final internal works comprise placing the final ceiling tiles, completing the painting, commissioning, and testing of the completed mechanical and electrical services, cleaning and snagging. External works comprise finalisation of pavements and landscaping. The work on the paediatric outpatient centre at Tallaght included a significant investment in the adult hospital which involves the delivery of a new changing and administration block, a new creche, and the upgrade of roads and pavements, car park, and electrical infrastructure.

The works at Tallaght will provide further modern facilities to support primary and community paediatrics and will also support infection prevention and control and improve patient pathways.

Despite delays, and Covid-19 restrictions, significant progress is also being made on the site of the main new hospital at St James’s. ‘Topping out’, where the highest point on a building is completed, took place at the end of March 2021. The infill concrete slabs over the steelwork frame, closing in the concourse, will be complete by August 2021.

Glazing and façade works are continuing such that the distinctive shape of the building is becoming clear. It is anticipated that the majority of the building will be weathertight by the autumn. The fit out of certain internal areas has begun, with discernible rooms and areas taking shape. The primary mechanical and electrical plant, comprising boilers, combined heat and power, generators, transformers, main distribution boards, and medical gases are well progressed, with the focus now on primary and secondary distribution around the building.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has the statutory responsibility and resources to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new children’s hospital and continues to engage with the main contractor and reviews the contractor’s programme of works on a regular basis.

Like many other sectors of the economy, the construction sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and progress on the main building at St James’s campus was delayed in 2020. Notwithstanding that the site has remained open under subsequent levels of restrictions, the impact of Covid-19 will continue well into 2021. In addition, the sector is challenged by Brexit and global supply chain issues but the NPHDB and contractors are working hard to mitigate those risks.