Mairéad Farrell
Question:1481. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the most recent estimated cost for the new national maternity hospital (details supplied). [19781/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 April 2022
Questions (1481)
Written answers
The capital project to co-locate relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) Campus is progressing. Site preparatory and enabling works were required to support the relocation of the new NMH.
These preparatory works commenced on the campus in early 2018 with a programme of Aspergillus prevention works. Construction of the new pharmacy and the multi-storey car-park were completed in 2021 and both are fully operational. The costs of all works to date are €51m (including VAT).
With the exception of the construction works referenced above, no further contractual commitments have been entered into with respect to works to the new NMH 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, before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
A 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.
The final decision to proceed with the construction and therefore to estimate the cost for the new NMH 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.