Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health when the construction contract for the National Children's Hospital project will be signed and to whom it is to be awarded; if provisions in this contract specify upper limits for the amount that will be paid for the construction of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12311/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The granting of planning permission in April 2016 for the hospital, Paediatric Outpatient Department and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital was a huge and very welcome milestone for the project. An internationally recognised design team, supported by the 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. 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.

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 company has been notified that it is the preferred bidder however the contract has not been awarded yet. I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government in the coming weeks on the new children’s hospital. Full details of the costs and funding will be set out in the Memorandum for Government and will form the basis upon which the approval decision will be made.