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An aerial view of the under-construction National Children's Hospital The Newcomen International Society for the History of Engineering and Technology was founded in 1920 and takes its name from Thomas Newcomen, who invented the first practical working steam engine. Among the projects it chronicles shortly after its establishment was the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme at Ardnacrusha, Co Clare. The electricity power station that harnesses the power of the River Shannon was a hugely ambitious project for its time, just after the emergence of the Irish Free State.
The development has stood the test of time and Ardnacrusha is still providing electricity a century later. The fledgling nation dedicated the equivalent of a fifth of the State’s annual budget, but was seen as vital in advancing the development of the country. The new plant drove demand for electricity and allowed the social, economic and cultural development of the nation.
The investment has been repaid many times over. What would those founding fathers make of the fiasco around the new national children’s hospital a century later? The scale of the plan was off the charts, with changes to the flow of the largest river in Ireland, involving the construction of multiple dams and bridges, and then there was the building of the plant itself. The construction of a national power grid was also required to carry this power across the nation.
Outside expertise was required and the power plant was constructed by the German company Siemens-Schuckert, with 174 permits granted to German staff. However, much of the design was done by Irish engineers and Ireland provided most of the labour force of 5,000 workers at its peak. Looking back at that period, it was a brave decision for the leaders of the country to take.
Opened in 1929, the completion of the plant showed the new State could stand on its own feet. What would those founding fathers make of the fiasco around the new national children’s hospital a century later? The saga shows no sign of abating and is destined to play out in the courts for years for come. A best-case scenario would see the hospital opening some time in 2026.
Maybe. But there are no guarantees. The overrun in spending has been matched by an overrun in time to complete the project.
The taxpayer is left footing the bill. The children and parents of Ireland are left waiting for the new facility. It is an enormous project and there is no doubt about that.
However, in modern times it is by no means unique for such ventures to be undertaken on the international stage. The cost of the project has now spiralled to €2.2bn and there is also no guarantee this will be final price.
The latest chapter is currently playing out with a very public blame game going on between the Government and the builder, BAM. Pre-empting the spotlight falling on the project this week when the board of the hospital appears before an Oireachtas committee, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has put his take in writing in a letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris and the coalition leaders. The details are stark, including that none of the 3,000 rooms finished so far by the builder of the new National Children’s Hospital (NCH) “were completed to the expected, acceptable standard”.
The taxpayer is left footing the bill. The children and parents of Ireland are left waiting for the new facility. The lack of leadership is depressing.
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