It is “wrong” that BAM’s disastrous handling of the Children’s Hospital is not taken into account when the company bids for other public contracts, a Fianna Fáil TD has argued. 

The hospital, originally budgeted for €650 million, will now cost taxpayers an estimated €2.2 billion. 

It will also be at least four years late and no final completion date can be given, as BAM still has thousands of defects to fix. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said the Public Accounts Committee had been shocked that the Department of Health still does not have a move in date. 

“It’s a really unusual situation,” he said. 

“Normally, the Public Accounts Committee are dealing with a completed project, an audited set of accounts and we examine what has gone wrong. 

“What's happening with the Children's Hospital hearings… is that we have a live building project. 

“We've a completion date that's moved 19 times and the witnesses who are in open dispute with the contractor.

“It's a very, very messy situation.” 

The National Children's Hospital. Picture by: PA Archive/PA Images.

Why the hospital has taken so long to be completed is a further point of contention; BAM point to the pandemic and insist that the State has demanded design changes that have delayed their work. 

“In the committee room, the witnesses are saying that they haven't had substantial design changes,” Deputy McAuliffe said. 

“Going back to 2019, they said this was the latest one; outside the room, we have the contractor who has a financial benefit in making such claims who are saying that there's substantial changes. 

“What was also said yesterday is that there just isn't enough boots on the ground to get this finished.” 

Construction at the National Children's Hospital.

Overall, Deputy McAuliffe said it is “very difficult to kind of draw the line as to where blame lies”. 

“There is a suspicion sometimes that contractors bid low and have a very healthy claims process in order to maximise profit,” he said. 

“I suppose we can't say that at this point, but there have been very significant claims.”

Whatever the truth, the Dublin North West TD said the contract for the Children’s Hospital is “incredibly flawed” and must not be used again. 

“Some of the committee members went further and asked why were BAM being given other contracts or being allowed to tender for other contracts?” he said. 

“And it was made clear that past poor performance isn't necessarily taken into account when new contracts are being allocated - and that's wrong.

“I think when the final sod is turned, or when the final brick is laid on the Children's Hospital, we will have to have a full account of what happens on this site." 

BAM has been contacted for comment.

Main image: National Children's Hospital. Image: Supplied.