In pictures: We look inside the new children's hospital as it begins to take shape

Despite ongoing frustrations, the tour revealed a very different vista to a similar visit in June 2021.

Corridors which stood open to the elements then are now covered in with huge windows, bringing light to every corner.

Walls and doors are colour-coded to help patients and staff identify where they are. It is clear now where life-saving machinery will go with many elements already installed.

What was a muddy mess is now visibly part of planned 14 gardens among four acres of outdoor areas and internal courtyards.

Some 39 paediatric specialities will come together here, with children from around Ireland in need of specialist care also to be treated.

Phelim Devine, project director of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, said construction firm BAM now expects to hand the building over in October 2024.

It has been estimated that costs could run over €2bn, as delays and other pressures mount.

“People need to see the building as a long-term investment,” he said. “Get it right first time, put the money in, put the investment in and that helps the people who provide the care, and that gets our children home early.” 

Tracey Wall, clinical transformation lead with Children’s Health Ireland, estimated it would be spring-summer 2025 before the hospital is fully fitted out and ready for the first patient.

There will be 380 in-patient rooms with 20 reserved for the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).

“We have 20 paediatric intensive beds, we have 22 cardiac intensive care beds and 18 neonatal intensive care beds,” Ms Wall said.

“Across Crumlin and Temple St at the moment, we have 32 beds. So we have significant capacity in comparison to what we have at the moment.”

There are 93 beds for day procedures among other short-stay beds, she said, stressing the model of care is to move away from admitting children where possible.

Some 300 of the rooms allow for parents to stay overnight. Young patients on the Youth Advisory Council offered suggestions on this including separate sockets for parents.

Parents can also access a 30-room block with kitchen, launderette and gym, or 52 rooms in the Ronald McDonald House which will re-locate. 

“There is some parents’ accommodation in Tallaght, Crumlin and Temple Street but it’s not as contained as what we’ve designed here,” she said.

The rooftop helipad is also nearing completion.

It offers a stunning view across the city, indicating how easily helicopters from the Air Corps and ultimately also the Coast Guard will be able to access this city centre site.

Staffing the large campus is, however, expected to be a challenge.

Ms Wall said: “every single staff member that we currently have is required in this new building”.

The hospital will run on electronic health records, and she said graduates will want to work in this environment.

However, concerns remain around parking. Tender documents indicate a 994-space car park including 575 paying visitor spaces, 100 spaces for social care guests and 319 for staff.

Reporters were told yesterday that spaces will be reserved for families in emergencies and people with appointments can book ahead for parking.

There are currently “around 1,300” workers on site, Denis McCarthy, director with BAM Ireland, said.

As well as Ireland, they are from all over Europe with a significant number from Brazil including many female engineers, he said.

He rejected concerns that delays may be down to a lack of workers, saying: “we have specialist people here, you want the right people as opposed to too many numbers”.

There is clearly still a long way to go, with two more winters in overcrowded hospitals ahead of Ireland’s sickest children, but it is possible the finish line is coming into focus.