The body responsible for the design, construction and equipping of the new National Children's Hospital has said it does not envisage potential remedial works interfering with the scheduled completion.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) issued the statement in response to Sinn Féin claims of potential remedial work required on 11 operating theatres, possible overruns of tens of millions of euro and delays in completing the facility.
The board described the potential works as minor and said what was of critical importance was that the contractor had still not provided a programme of works.
It said: "The NPHDB has been aware of the potential issue since May 2022. It is being addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
"The change, if instructed to BAM, will involve the movement of 4 ceiling grilles in each of the 11 theatres. This will not cost 'tens of millions of Euro', as is being claimed, and is not expected to have an impact on the completion date of the hospital.
"BAM has been instructed to continue works in accordance with the current design - and this potential issue with be addressed at the appropriate time."
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said Sinn Féin was engaged in what he called "catastrophising" and heralding apocryphal outcomes.
Last month, the contractors building the hospital, BAM, were directed to stop work on the ceilings of half of the hospital's operating theatres.
Documents sent by architects acting on behalf of the board referred to possible modifications to installed ceilings, along with changes to electrical and mechanical services.
A review is now under way to see how best to proceed.
In a statement this afternoon, BAM said its sole focus was on delivering the hospital.
It added: "Work is progressing well and is now over 80% complete.
"We are continuing to prepare the programme update as required under the contract based on the scope as currently known.
"We are working closely with our client's design team to support development of the revised scope of work for the operating theatres.
"BAM has not engaged with any third parties on any of these matters."
The issue was raised in the Dáil today and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said an independent report last year identified major generic faults in the operating theatres at the new children's hospital.
The Dáil heard this report warned that if action was not taken, then systems would fail, but Ms McDonald said it is only now that this issue is being examined.
Responding, the Taoiseach said the hospital would transform healthcare for children and Government anticipated the hospital would open next year.
He said any works required in the operating theatres would not delay the opening of the hospital.
Mr Varadkar said Government believes this issue is a distraction from a request to the contractors to provide an updated programme of works.
The Taoiseach added that Government first heard about the matter this morning.
Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cuillane earlier said that the work could cost tens of millions of euro and delay the completion of the hospital.
Minister Donnelly has called on Mr Cullinane to identify the source of the claim.
Mr Cullinane said that he will not be revealing the source of information and said that he has met a number of people in relation to the project.
Mr Donnelly said what concerned him was that there was not yet a compliant programme of works from the contractor.
Because of this, the NPHDB has told the contractor BAM that it intends to withhold 15% of the payments due.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Cullinane said that according to what he has been told by a source, the issue is related to the ventilation system.
He said: "The information I've been given is that there is a major generic fault in 11 of the operating theatres, which has an impact on the air ventilation systems."
He added that the "board knew about this last May. That an external company was brought in to look at the ventilation system and warned that there was difficulties and problems. The board knew about it in May of last year".
Mr Cullinane said: "It took 12 months for the board to act, to stop the works and to establish what they're now saying as workshops to look at the extent of the works needed to be done.
"The source that I spoke to again this morning, and this is somebody at the heart of this project, tells me that this is very, very serious.
"That it will add potentially tens of millions to the cost of the children's hospital, but also could take up to 12 months to complete the changes because what we're talking about here in terms of the operating theatres are obviously very, very sensitive theatres, they involve in the ceilings, gas pipes, oxygen pipes, live sprinkler system, electrical pipes."
Mr Cullinane said it would "be wrong for the board to downplay this" and said the Government "has to come clean, they can't be asleep at the wheel" over the issue.
"It's my understanding as well that these 11 operating theatres failed the test that was carried out in March. So, for me this is an absolute disaster.
"For me this cannot be swept under the carpet."
Speaking this afternoon, Mr Varadkar said that the hospital "will be completed in 2024".
He said that while it takes time for a hospital to be commissioned, he expects that "the first patients will be seen there at some point in 2024".
Mr Varadkar said that the hospital's board has issued a "very clear" statement on the issue of operating theatres, adding that he is satisfied with the work the board is doing.
The board have a "difficult job", he added.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said it is "very difficult to know what to believe and know " when the hospital will be complete.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One programme, she called on the Government and the board to provide clarity.
Ms Murphy said: "It’s pretty basic to know when the hospital is going to be completed.
"Delays are costing money because it’s built into the contract building inflation so it does matter when the hospital is completed and we do need clarity on this."
