Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2020
262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the approved level of legal fees contained within the figure of €1.433 billion approved for the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board; the status of the further request by the board for approval of legal fees estimated for 2020 to 2022 of €15 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39159/20]
View answerThe NPHDB has the statutory responsibility and resources to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new children’s hospital. The Government was advised in December 2018 that the overall cost to complete the new children’s hospital capital project is €1,433m.
A figure of €53 million was approved at that time for ‘other costs’. The ‘other costs’ includes NPHDB direct costs, Design Team fees & Specialist consultants comprising of legal, audit, procurement & independent conciliator.
The previous Government published a report of the escalation in national children's hospital costs in April 2019. The PwC report recommended that the NPHDB strengthen its project controls, including in respect of claims management. This has been done and the NPHDB has a robust process in place for the assessment of claims by the Contractor in accordance with the Construction Contract. The NPHDB has financed the implementation of the PwC recommendations, including strengthening claims defence, from within its resources, using its contingency fund.
