Mayo councillor questions timeline for Ballina hospital project

A NORTH Mayo councillor has questioned if the extra costs associated with completing the National Children's Hospital is resulting in delays in starting new projects such as the extension to the Ballina District Hospital.

Plans for in place to redevelop the Ballina hospital into a three-storey 75-bed facility and it was confirmed at a HSE Regional Health Forum meeting this afternoon that it is hoped to have the design team procurement process for the development of the hospital will be competed in Q1 of 2025.

Joe Hoare, Assistant National Director, HSE Capital & Estates informed Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus that when this stage is completed it will 'then take a number of years to progress the scheme through the statutory approvals, design, tender, construction and equipping phases'.

The news that the design team procurement process will begin was welcomed by Cllr Loftus but he asked why it will take a number of years to progress the scheme further.

Speaking at the meeting, the Fianna Fáil councillor asked if the delays in completing the National Children's Hospital is affecting projects like the extension to the Ballina District Hospital.

“We seem to have a problem going forward with projects and I wonder if the Children's Hospital has any effect on this. I am disappointed with the time it will take to develop a 75-bed building which will be of major importance for the county of Mayo,” he told the meeting.

It has been reported that a confidential report for the HSE has questioned the operational readiness to commission and operate the new National Children's Hospital. There have also been clashes in recent weeks between the Government and the new hospital builders BAM, over concerns that the opening date could drift into 2026.

In response, Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, West and North West, HSE said he did not see any connection with the issues surrounding the National Children's Hospital and the timeline for the delivery of projects such as the Ballina District Hospital extension. He added that it is hoped the design team for the 75-bed building will be approved in the coming months and everything else involved in the project will happen following this.