Construction firm BAM has said work is to cease on the National Children's Hospital as a result of Covid-19 measures.

In a statement this evening, it said it had received confirmation from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board that work on the hospital was not considered essential construction services.

BAM said it welcomes the clarification, which it said it had been seeking over a number of days.

It said: "Work ceased immediately upon its receipt.

"BAM had followed all official Government and HSE guidelines in relation to the operation of its sites in recent weeks and has had the welfare of its staff and contractors as its top priority."

It said it was continuing to undertake separate Covid-19 related work at the St James's Hospital Campus in Dublin, as well as some essential motorway maintenance and facilities management work around the country.

BAM said it was operating to the strictest of safety procedures for all workers.

Yesterday, BAM said it had suspended work on a large-scale development under way at the Intel site in Leixlip, Co Kildare.

Last week, as it announced further restrictions to stop the virus spreading, the Government issued a list of workers who can continue to leave home to go to work.

It included some construction workers, but only those working on essential health and related projects relevant to the Covid-19 crisis and the repair or construction of critical road and utility infrastructure.