Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
607. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the expenditure on the list of completed works and work in progress in relation to the €51.2 million spent on the enabling works for the National Maternity Hospital to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/22]
View answer608. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the rapidly escalating cost of the enabling works for the National Maternity Hospital mirrors that of the hospital itself and notwithstanding concerns around ownership and control risks becoming like the National Children’s Hospital given that the original 2018 estimate for the cost of these works was €18 million which has now increased by more than 183%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15778/22]
View answer610. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if at the time the enabling works were commissioned in relation to the national maternity hospital, the final business case for the national maternity hospital had been completed and approved in relation to works (details supplied); and if it covered this new and replacement pharmacy works. [15780/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 607, 608 and 610 together.
The Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus at Elm Park, as set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future.
As part of the NMH relocation project, enabling works were undertaken to prepare the site of the new NMH and de-risk the campus in advance of the construction works for the new hospital, which included a replacement pharmacy and carpark extension. In 2018 Government noted the intention to progress the awarding of the contract for a replacement pharmacy and carpark extension, as key enablers of the main development. This first phase of work commenced on the site in February 2019 - the pharmacy and multistorey car park extension were completed in 2021 and both are fully operational.
A breakdown of the expenditure to date is detailed in the table below:
|
Enabling Works |
Spend to date (Incl. VAT) |
|
Replacement of pharmacy and an extension to the multistorey car park |
€28.9m |
|
- Aspergillus protection and prevention works - Enabling works/site preparation works - Junction upgrades to the entrances at Nutley Lane and Merrion Road in line with Planning Condition - Demolition works - Infrastructural works, including diversions of life-critical mechanical and electrical systems supporting the adult hospital |
€22.3m |
|
Total |
€51.2m |
As the NMH relocation is a project initiated prior to the updated PSC, the Project Board undertook additional work to ensure the business case for the relocation of the NMH is in full compliance with the new PSC requirements.
This final business case has been submitted to the Department by the NMH Project Board and is now subject to technical review by the Department of Health, including the External Assurance Process for major capital projects recently introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Pending favourable review under the Spending Code, a Memorandum for Government will then be brought forward to progress the programme for the NMH.If approval in principle is granted, the project can move to preparation of tender documents in line with EU law and deployment of a tendering strategy.
I understand that several different contracts were in place for essential site enabling works and I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly to provide you with further information.
