Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004
375 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on progress at the Midland Regional Hospital project at Tullamore; the amount spent per annum on this extension since it commenced; the expected additional spend until completion; the timescale for completion and commissioning; and if she will compare this timeframe and expenditure to the original estimates for this project. [23409/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major capital development project at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore is a new hospital to replace the existing out-dated facility. I am glad to report that construction of the new hospital commenced on site in October 2002 with a programmed contract completion date of August 2005. The construction contract is currently approximately 12 weeks behind programme and every effort is being made, by all parties to the contract, to bring the project back on programme.
The cumulative annual capital spend by my Department on the project, from its commencement to the end of 2003 was over €36 million, broken down as follows:
|
Year |
€ million |
|
1998 |
0.092 |
|
1999 |
0.867 |
|
2000 |
2.097 |
|
2001 |
4.749 |
|
2002 |
4.147 |
|
2003 |
24.084 |
|
Total |
36.036 |
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, expected spend to completion cannot, at this stage of the development, be disclosed. The current projected final cost of the project is within the original estimated project cost.
The target timescale for completion of the construction contract, despite the current programme delay, is August 2005. The equipping process for the new hospital has commenced with my Department's recent approval to the acceptance of tenders for the radiology department equipment. Equipping and commissioning of the hospital is expected to be complete in mid 2006. These timescales are in line with original projections.
