Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the €30 million allocation in 2019 for the children's science museum and the National Concert Hall; the date in 2019 the project is expected to commence; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun on the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6913/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to delivering Project Ireland 2040 within the overall multi-year resource envelope that has been set out. For 2019, the capital allocation has increased by €1,325 million or just over 22% above the 2018 allocation as stated in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2019. With regard to implications arising from the National Children’s Hospital project, the Government is currently considering how the additional cost pressures will be accommodated within the multi-year envelope, with a minimum of disruption to the planned rollout and delivery of important infrastructure projects under Project Ireland 2040, which I am pleased to report are proceeding at a strong rate.

The proposed redevelopment of the National Concert Hall and the new National Children’s Science Centre forms part of the Cultural Quarter Development programme planned for the National Concert Hall campus at Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2. The Office of Public Works has commenced the procurement of consultants for the overall National Concert Hall campus development. It is planned to carry out the works on a phased basis and it is expected that the first phase will commence on site in 2020. This will be preceded by the obtaining of the necessary statutory approvals, detailed design and tender process, which is expected to be progressed during 2019.