Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
299. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of information technology and associated fit-out plans for the new national children’s hospital; the costs and configuration involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14971/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres.
Investment in ICT and the Electronic Health Record will be funded through the ICT capital programme. The allocation for ICT in the new children’s hospital is €97 million and the EHR allocation stands at €52 million, as per the Memo for Government in December 2018 and these costs are based on market soundings. Procurements to deliver the ICT and EHR have not yet commenced and it is expected that successful contractors will work within the allocated budget.
In light of the concerns over the cost escalation associated with the finalisation of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) process in November 2018, the Government also approved the commissioning of an independent review of the escalation in cost at the same time. As part of its Terms of Reference, the review will comment on the major residual risks and the robustness/completeness of the current forecasts.
