Delivering Ireland’s New Children’s Hospital

Children’s Health Ireland was established on 1 January 2019. This saw Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and paediatric services at Tallaght University Hospitals come together and integrate into one organisation to deliver healthcare to Ireland’s children, in preparation for the opening of the new children’s hospital. It is also the client for the new children’s hospital project, including its two new paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres. As an academic healthcare organisation, CHI is leading on the clinical and operational transformation of acute paediatric healthcare through our triple mission of integrated services, education and research and innovation.

The new children’s hospital (NCH) project, comprising the main hospital on the shared campus at St James’s and two paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres CHI at Connolly, Blanchardstown, and CHI at Tallaght.The NCH Project will have a significant impact on 25% of the population and is a Government priority, it is the most significant capital investment project in the healthcare system undertaken in Ireland. It will bring together the services currently provided at three children’s hospitals into a modern, custom-designed, digital, hospital at St James’s campus, to deliver the best care and treatments for Ireland’s sickest children and young people. As well as playing a central role in the provision of acute paediatric healthcare services, the
new children’s hospital will be the primary centre for paediatric education, training, and research in Ireland. It will be a child-centred, world-class facility that will support innovation and excellence in paediatric healthcare, and create an environment that is supportive of children, young people, their families, and the hospital’s staff.

- Over 99% of all concrete has been placed and the concrete frame is now complete since March 2021. This concludes the pouring of approximately 150,000 m3 of concrete in 3 years. That is enough to fill 60 Olympic swimming pools.
- Approximately 2,300 tonnes of steel structure have been erected. This is the equivalent of more than twelve Boeing 747 jets.
- Over 800 windows have been installed. In addition to approximately 6,200m2 of toggle glazing, 5,800 m2 of stone cladding and 10,800 m2 of utilized glazing. That is enough area to cover more than two soccer pitches.
- More than 86,000 m2 of partitions have been installed. That is approximately the same area as St Stephen’s Green.
- The site was awarded a BREEAM Excellent Rating in Design. We are one of only a small number of hospitals in the world to have achieved this rating for sustainability.
- The Paediatric Outpatient and Emergency Care Unit at CHI at Tallaght opened in November 2021. Facilitates an additional 17,000 outpatient appointments and 30,000 emergency care attendances.

The Programme was established in 2015 with the purpose of ensuring that the benefits of having a world-class hospital are fully realised in the communities neighbouring the hospital. Led by a full-time Community Benefit Programme Manager, the Programme is overseen by a Group comprising representatives from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Children’s Health Ireland, Educational Training Board, Tusla, HSE, Inner City Community Co-operative and Dublin South City Partnership. Local community organisations are also key members and are represented by Fatima United Groups, Kilmainham Inchicore Network, Inchicore Regeneration Consultative Forum, St Theresa’s Gardens and Dolphin House Regeneration Boards and CORN representing the Liberties area