Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the national children’s hospital will cost in excess of the €1.43 billion already committed to the project; when his attention was drawn to the fact that the cost will exceed the €1.43 billion; if the cost will surpass the €200 million reserve set aside for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The roll out of the national children’s hospital is a matter for the Minister for Health and it is his responsibility to manage this cost within his multi annual capital envelope. As the Deputy will be aware the capital allocation for Health increased by €80 million in the recently published Budget figures.  The increase in the Health capital expenditure allocation for 2020 takes account of the additional funding required for the National Children's Hospital, as well as the re-profiling of other elements of capital expenditure both within the Health sector and within the overall NDP capital envelopes. As such to date, there was no substantial charge made in respect of the National Children’s Hospital on the €200 million expenditure reserve announced in the Summer Economic Statement.