Written answers

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Department of Health

National Children's Hospital Expenditure

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Health the schedule of all costs, subsequent changes to costs and current projected costs associated with the national children's hospital from initial tenders to date; the details of costs covered by the development board (details supplied) and the Children's hospital group and other associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5394/19]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following evaluation by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) in early 2017 of main construction tenders and the selection of preferred contractors, the final cost of the design, build, and equipment programme for which the NPHDB is responsible was €983m. Following the completion of the second stage of the two-stage tender procurement process in November 2018, the capital project cost is now at €1,433m.

In addition to the capital project, there is a broader programme of activity associated with the integration and transfer of the services of the three children’s hospitals to the new sites under development. This includes a comprehensive Children’s Hospital Integration Programme which is well underway, funded through revenue, to ensure the successful clinical and operational merging of three paediatric hospitals; investment in ICT and the Electronic Health Record roll-out funding through the ICT capital programme; pre-2013 project expenditure relating to the former Mater project, and the planned construction of the Children’s Research and Innovation Centre to be funded through philanthropic funding.Costs relating to decommissioning of the three hospitals are not included. Neither have future uses for the hospital premises at Temple Street and Crumlin or potential revenues for the latter been determined. Adult services will be provided in Tallaght Hospital in the spaces vacated by the paediatric services.

The following table sets out the breakdown of costs from initial tenders and following the completion of the two-stage tender procurement process.

In relation to the reporting of the cost escalation, I was first advised by my officials in September 2017 of a costs estimate increase of €61m associated with additional sprinklers, post tender programme alignment and the cost of the OPD Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght with assurance that developments were being carefully managed. The NPHDB was advised to identify savings within its approved capital budget and seek to offset the potential cost increases through a variety of measures with a view to managing the project within approved parameters. It was the subject of detailed discussion and intensive monitoring.

I was briefed on a potential cost escalation for the project on 27 August 2018 following a meeting of my officials and the Chair and Executive Director of the NPHDB on 24 August 2018.

On completion of the Guaranteed Maximum Price process, the NPHDB informed my officials of the revised cost of €1.433bn on 8 November 2018, and I was subsequently briefed on 9 November on the emerging position.

On 9 November, the cost escalation was highlighted at a meeting with the Taoiseach. It was agreed that further details would be provided in a formal way to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and to the Department of the Taoiseach prior to Government consideration. Officials in the Department of the Taoiseach were briefed on 21 November and on 13 December, and the Taoiseach’s adviser was briefed on 26 November.

My Department submitted a report from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board on the cost overrun and the reasons for it to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the 19th November and met with officials of that Department to discuss it on the 23 November.

The draft Government Memo was shared with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of the Taoiseach in early December and was submitted to Cabinet for its meeting on 18 December 2018.

New Children's Hospital Construction and Non-construction Costs

- 2017 costs as per Government approval of €983m following receipt of tenders

- 2018 costs following completion of GMP process in November 2018

Item2017 Costs

€m
2018 Costs

€m
Decant 1614.5
Aspergillus6.85.8
Main NCH637890
Less VE-66
Net Main NCH Construction571890
Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres3853.4
Sub Total631.8963.7
VAT85.3130.1
Gross Construction Costs717.11093.8
Equipping71.687.9
Planning14.913.6
Design Team fees43.771.3
Risk/Contingency3951.3
NPH Project Costs5266.04
Other Costs Sub Total 221.1290.1
VAT (excluding Construction)44.749
Sub Total Gross Other Costs265.9339.1
Capital Build Sub Total9831.433bn
Children's Research and Innovation Centre1818
ICT8897
Children’s Hospital Integration Programme 8686
Electronic Healthcare Record5252
Mater Campus4040
Sub Total 284293
Grand Total 1.26bn1.7bn

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