Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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403. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 26 November 2019, the difference between €1,433 million and the sum of the amounts quoted in the table for 2020, 2021 and 2022 equates to the amount that has been spent to date on the national children’s hospital; the amount of each of the figures quoted in the table that has already been allocated to his Department under the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50119/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The estimated capital cost to complete the new Children’s Hospital and the urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals, as advised to Government December 2018, is €1,433m. The Parliamentary Question referred in the Deputy's question specifically requested information relating to 2020, 2021 and 2022, with additional funds provided for in 2023. The estimated capital cost excludes any additional costs that might arise from items such as construction industry inflation at levels higher than included in the contract or successful contractor claims.

The capital funding available for the public health services from 2020 to 2022 has been allocated in the recent Budget.

Capital funding for the new Children’s Hospital project has been and will be provided through the annual health capital programme.

The HSE is required to manage its capital expenditure within an agreed Capital Plan each year. The Department and the Health Service Executive maintain close contact regarding the capital funds available each year and the progress of major capital projects and programmes to achieve a balanced capital spend each year.