Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
367. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current position in regard to the construction of the new maternity hospital; the degree to which the necessary preparations are being advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26992/23]
View answerThe Preliminary Business Case (PBC) and pre-tender Final Business Case (FBC) for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) were submitted to the Department of Health by the NMH Project Board for combined review at Decision Gates 1 and 2 of the 2019 Public Spending Code (PSC) lifecycle process. Under the March 2023 update to the PSC, this review most aligns with Stages 1 and 2 and as such is continuing through the current process of presentation to the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) and seeking consent of Government to proceed.
The External Assurance Process (EAP) Review of the NMH business case documentation at Gates 1 and 2 of the PSC and the presentation to the MPAG has been completed. The findings of MPAG are currently being reviewed and subject to any amendments or updates recommended by the MPAG, it is expected that the business case can be brought to Government for information and consent to proceed to tender.
In the interim, the Project Board is pursuing opportunities to accelerate or parallel certain activities related to the project that can be undertaken without presupposing the outcome of the Government consent so that the tender process can be deployed as soon as possible after a positive Government decision.
