Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
1232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimate for the cost of construction of the new national maternity hospital on the site of St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20289/20]
View answerThe site preparatory works in connection with the relocation of the new National Maternity Hospital to the St. Vincent’s University Hospital campus consists of Aspergillus prevention works, campus infrastructural upgrade works, enabling works / site preparation works, and the construction of a new Pharmacy and multi storey car-park. The preparatory works commenced on the campus in early 2016 with the Aspergillus prevention works, and are due for completion early 2021 with the conclusion of the new pharmacy and the multi-storey car-park. The budget for these works is €46.6m, of which €31.2m has been expended to date.
With the exception of the construction works which are contractually committed as listed above, no further contractual commitments have been entered into with respect to works to the new National Maternity Hospital project.
It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established. The final decision to proceed with the construction of a project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.
