Tánaiste Simon Harris has taken full responsibility for the National Children’s Hospital project after facing fierce criticism in the Dáil over its latest delay and spiralling costs.
The hospital’s completion has now been pushed back for the 15th time, with a new target date set for September. Opposition parties launched a scathing attack on the Fine Gael leader, accusing him of financial mismanagement and incompetence.
Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty delivered the harshest criticism, claiming Harris had “declared open season on the public finances” when he signed the project contract without a finalised plan in place.
“The Tánaiste personally signed the contract for the National Children’s Hospital without even having a finalised plan in place,” Doherty said. “It was a case of build as you go. That is why Bam has had the State over a barrel for the last eight years.”
Doherty argued that while it’s unsurprising that developers would seek maximum profit, “competent ministers are supposed to protect the public purse.” He compared the situation to everyday contracts, noting that anyone building a house or replacing a kitchen knows they need a proper plan before signing agreements.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín joined the criticism, dubbing Harris “Simon ‘It Wasn’t Me’ Harris” and accusing him of blame-shifting regarding the cost and time overruns. Tóibín emphasised that the issue isn’t the hospital’s quality, but rather the excessive price tag and lengthy delays.
In his defence, Harris acknowledged his role in the project’s approval. “I am responsible, of course. I am responsible for bringing the proposal to the Cabinet and for recommending we proceed,” he told the Dáil.
The Tánaiste argued that avoiding difficult decisions is the easy path in politics, but stressed the hospital’s importance. He highlighted that the facility is over 95% complete with technical commissioning now underway, describing it as a future world-class facility.
Harris painted a picture of the improvements the hospital will bring, from providing proper bed facilities for parents who currently sleep on “cold, hard floors” in existing hospitals, to offering single ensuite rooms for children and additional operating theatres.
“We are going to be responsible for transforming children’s healthcare,” Harris said, acknowledging that while “nobody gets everything right in politics,” many lessons have been learned from the project.
The National Children’s Hospital has become one of Ireland’s most controversial infrastructure projects, with costs and timelines repeatedly exceeding initial projections. The latest delay marks yet another setback for a facility that was originally expected to open years ago.