Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the most recent projection by the project team of cost is €740 million, not including fit-out of the hospital, as against original budget of €485 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44445/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to the capital project to develop the new children's hospital. Minister Howlin has committed to making €200m available from the sale of the National Lottery for the new children's hospital, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding and underlining the Government's commitment to the project. Current estimates are that the core hospital, including both satellite centres, will be delivered within this envelope. This includes provision for inflation, VAT and contingencies; it does not include equipment or ICT which can be purchased, licensed or leased separately. Philanthropic and commercial funding streams will be targeted as appropriate for supporting elements of the project to include car parking, academic and research facilities, and estimates will continue to be reviewed and refined at each stage of the project. I do not intend to provide further detail on the cost breakdown at this stage, on the basis of commercial sensitivity. In regard to the figure of €485m which the Deputy refers to, this figure has never been a confirmed estimate for the project.