Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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58. To ask the Minister for Health if an update will be provided on the preparation of a business plan under the public spending code for the new national maternity hospital. [17065/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) relocation is a project initiated prior to the updated Public Spending Code (PSC), the Project Board undertook additional work to ensure full compliance with the new PSC.

The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities. The PSC also provides detail on the requirements at each stage of the new project lifecycle.

A business case for relocation of NMH has been submitted to the Department by the NMH Project Board. The Business Case is subject to technical review by the Department of Health, including through the External Assurance Process recently introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Pending favourable review under the Spending Code, a Memorandum for Government will then be brought forward to progress the programme for the NMH.

If approval in principle is granted, the project can move to preparation of tender documents in line with EU law and deployment of a tendering strategy.