Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Health when the new Children's Hospital to be built on the St. James's Hospital site is expected to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24967/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The new Children’s Hospital (NCH) project comprises the main hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, the Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and the Outpatient and Emergency Care Centre at Tallaght University Hospital.

The two satellite centres are now open. The Outpatient and Emergency Care Centre at Tallaght University Hospital opened in November 2021 while the Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital opened in July 2019.

Work on the main site is progressing well. While 2021 saw significant progress on the exterior, the major focus in 2022 is continuing the internal fit-out. This ranges from first fix in some areas, while others are much further progressed, with ceilings and joinery being fitted.

The NCH was connected to a permanent supply of power from the ESB network in 2022. Other key milestones expected in 2022 include the completion of the main biome glazed structure encasing the feature stairway and lifts, completion of the rooflights and ward end glazing to the Level 4 Rainbow Garden.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has advised that the main contractor’s current programme schedule outlines completion can be achieved by December 2023 which would mean the NCH at St James’s could open in the second half of 2024, after the necessary commissioning period. The NPHDB is working to ensure that contractor will meet its own schedule.