Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
573. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in progressing the development of the new Paediatric Unit in Cork University Hospital, given that it was granted planning permission in 2022 (details supplied); the current timeline for construction and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18062/26]
View answerCork University Hospital (CUH) has significant development ambitions, including multi-storey blocks to expand inpatient bed capacity, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department capacity, the paediatric unit development, and the completion of the new surgical hub in 2026. Every effort is being made to support the development of the paediatric unit since the grant of planning in 2022. The level of complexity involved in moving the paediatric development from planning to construction was foreseen and duly considered by CUH and the HSE in the sequencing and management of the project. The project is progressing through the requisite incremental approval stages in line with the Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructure Guidelines. After receipt of planning permission the project moved to detailed design stage—progressing the design work from outline/scheme level required for planning approval to the full technical detail, including detailed plans, sections, elevations, structural engineering and the mechanical & electrical engineering elements, which are fundamental to the design of hospital facilities in terms of safety, infection control, clinical care, resilience, and efficiency. The development is presently on track to appoint a main contractor in Q1 2027, subject to further approvals. In parallel, a substantial package of enabling works, which started in 2024, was required to support the new paediatric unit and wider CUH campus redevelopment. These works include the design and construction of a new internal road with a large retaining wall at the rear of the site, and the introduction of a one-way traffic system so that construction traffic can be managed alongside the existing traffic on site. Works are ongoing at present to clear existing structures on the location of the new paediatric unit. These works will include the demolition of an existing ward and storage wing, scheduled to begin in Q2 2026. Laboratory and welfare accommodation will also be relocated to allow for construction of the new paediatric unit. All of these works will enable the main contractor, once appointed, to commence construction on a clear site to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose healthcare paediatric inpatient facility at CUH. Once completed the paediatric unit will deliver 82 much-needed new and replacement inpatient beds, including 6 High Dependency beds and 4 Haematology/Oncology beds. It will also include 2 palliative care suites. The paediatric development is part of the first phase of major campus developments at CUH of significant scale, cost, and complexity. A considerable amount of planning has been undertaken to ensure developments, such as the paediatric unit, are right-sized, clinically and health-planning informed, achievable and, ultimately, affordable.
