David Cullinane
Question:340. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline the current estimated capital investment requirement for the NPH project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30355/23]
View answerThursday, 22 June 2023
Questions (340)
Written answers
The New Children’s Hospital (NCH) Project, comprising of the main hospital at St. James’s campus in Dublin, and two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals, is a Government priority.
In 2018, the previous Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This included the capital costs for the main hospital at St. James’s Hospital campus, the two outpatient departments and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght campuses (now fully operational), equipment for the three sites, and the construction of the carpark and retail spaces.
A number of items were not included in this investment figure, as there was no price certainty for them and nor can there be, for some, for the duration of the project. These include construction inflation, the impact of unforeseen events (e.g. Covid-19), statutory changes, the contractor’s right to claim for additional true costs in line with public works contract provisions, and implementation of the 2019 PwC report recommendations.
The HSE, as the Sanctioning Authority and capital funder for the programme, manage NPHDB funding within the overall health capital envelope. To date the original budget has not been depleted. The HSE 2023 Capital Plan has allocated €324.95m to the New Children’s Hospital project in 2023.
Definitive updates or outturn forecasts costs cannot be provided, as there is a live, commercially sensitive contract in place. Discussion of any costs/ investment required outside of the approved budget, hypothetical or otherwise, could adversely affect the NPHDB’s commercial engagements, contractual relationships and consequently the project itself. Any additional funding requests will be brought before Government for sanction.
Whilst there is a focus on the capital project and its delivery, we must not lose sight of the fact that the NCH project will deliver world class facilities that will improve and prioritise medical outcomes for the nation’s sickest children, while bringing about transformational change to the delivery of healthcare for the children of Ireland for generations to come.