David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1505. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of completing the repatriation of CervicalCheck screening services and diagnostics into a single public laboratory; the number of staff which need to be hired; the cost for same; the capital cost, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43147/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Construction of the National Cervical Screening Laboratory (NCSL) commenced on-site at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (CWIUH) in early January 2021 and significant progress is being made.

Capital costs for the design, build, and fit-out of the NCSL:

- There are estimated capital costs of approximately €15 million for the design, construction and general fit-out of the new laboratory.

- The equipment fit-out is estimated to be approximately €5 million.

- A comprehensive workforce plan has been developed, which allows for 23.2 FTE (full-time equivalent staff). The full year workforce costs are estimated to be approximately €2 million. 

Allowances have been made for this within the HSE capital and estimate plan for 2021/2022.

The opening of the new NCSL at the CWIUH will build capacity and resilience into the public element of the laboratory services required for the national cervical screening programme in Ireland. The NCSL, acting as the principal provider of laboratory screening services, will enable the National Screening Service to reduce its dependency on third party providers to meet the needs of CervicalCheck - the national cervical screening programme. The NCSL will also serve as the national base for training, education and research purposes as relevant to the national cervical screening programme.