David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was going to pose a number of questions on the elective hospitals or centres, but the Chair already raised the matter. I am not looking for a reply, but the committee had a lengthy discussion on the issue with officials late last year. I believe we will have another session on it this year. We need to identify the site in Dublin and progress the other hospitals. This is important for the reform of our health service. I hope that we see an injection of pace into the delivery of these hospitals.

I will ask questions on another hospital, namely, the national children’s hospital. I know the Minister likes to answer questions on this particular subject, as does every Minister. Given how this is the first time the Minister has been before us in the new year, it is important that we get an update on it. There was a great deal of discussion about the hospital last year. Everyone accepts that, when it is built, it will be world class, add significant value and so on. At the start of last year, the total programme cost of the hospital – there may have been additional costs for the satellite centres at Blanchardstown and Tallaght – was €1.433 billion. At our last session on the matter, the board stated that it had spent approximately €1.35 billion. It was nearing the figure of €1.433 billion and was going to the Cabinet for additional money. What was the additional capital that the board requested? Did it get all of that capital or just a portion of it as a bridging amount? What was the amount? I am still none the wiser about what amount the board requested. That is my first question. I have a number of others. Could I have clarity on the amount?