Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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175. To ask the Minister for Health if the contract for the construction of the proposed national children's hospital at St James's Hospital, Dublin has been awarded; the name of the company that the contract has been awarded to; the estimated cost of the contract; if that contract has been officially signed off on by the Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8876/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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At the outset I would like to emphasise again that the project to develop the new children’s hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance paediatric services for children. The granting of planning permission in April 2016 for the hospital, satellite centres and related buildings was a huge and very welcome milestone for the project. The first phase of construction (site clearing works) on the site of the new children’s hospital began in August 2016 and will be substantially completed within a matter of weeks.

An internationally recognised design team, supported by an experienced National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Project Team, are in place to drive the new children’s hospital project and to ensure that the project is delivered in accordance with national policy to optimal design and value for money. They have followed best international design, planning and procurement process at each stage of the project.

The tender process for the main construction works for the new children’s hospital and for the Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals has recently concluded. Local and international companies participated in the highly competitive tender process. More than 35 people participated in review panels for the tenders. The tenders were reviewed and measured against a number of technical and financial criteria and were independently peer-reviewed by construction experts with extensive experience of projects of this size and complexity. A preferred bidder - the most competitive - has been selected however the contract has not been awarded yet.

While I am not in a position to comment on contract prices at this stage I understand that the final construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale. It is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government shortly in relation to costs of the new children’s hospital.

The Department of Health continues to work closely with the HSE, the Children's Hospital Group Board and the Development Board to ensure that we deliver a world class hospital needed and wanted by children, young people, their families and the staff in the three children’s hospitals.