Multiple floors in National Children’s Hospital replaced three times due to “poor workmanship”

The development comes from documents given to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

There are currently 2,057 defects remaining within the hospital. The contractor has submitted more new claims for an additional €983 million over disputed costs incurred during the build.

The construction on the St James’s Hospital site in Dublin began in 2016. The cost has risen from €987 million to €2.24 billion, with repeated delays.

When finished, it will be the most expensive hospital on earth.

5,017 of 5,728 rooms have now reached the contract standard. The hospital cannot open until Bam has satisfactorily addressed all quality and compliance matters.

Documents provided to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the department allege multiple ongoing issues, particularly around a block on Level 2.

“Access to Level 2 has been subject to ongoing and repeated delays due to the failure of Bam to correctly oversee and ensure the quality of the installation of 14 of the 22 theatre resin floors,” the note reads.

“Some of those floors have had to be replaced up to three times because of poor workmanship and oversight of works by Bam.”

The documents say that the department is continuing to monitor Bam’s progress on delivering the so-called "hot block" on Level 2, but cannot forecast when the builder “will be in a position to hand it over”.

Other issues reported by the department include compliance concerns in the 244 bathroom pods within the hospital, which emerged over the summer.

The department added they are undertaking 100% inspections due to “poor quality performance” by Bam.

A spokesperson for Bam pushed back on the criticism.

“The specification, selection, and approval of products and systems involves multiple parties throughout the project, including the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board NPHDB and their design team, and forms part of the overall design, review, and certification process,” a spokesperson said.

“Bam continues to work closely with the NPHDB and Children’s Health Ireland to deliver the hospital as quickly and safely as possible for the children of Ireland.”