Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health the number of requests and monetary sums requested in respect of the ongoing completion of the National Children's Hospital in 2022, and to date in 2023. [15228/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The New Children’s Hospital (NCH) Project, comprising of the main hospital at St. James’s campus in Dublin, and two paediatric outpatient and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght hospitals, is a Government priority.

In 2018, the previous Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This included the capital costs for the main hospital at St. James’s Hospital campus, the two outpatient departments and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght campuses (now fully operational), equipment for the three sites, and the construction of the carpark and retail spaces.

A number of items were not included in this investment figure, as there was no price certainty for them and nor can there be, for some, for the duration of the project. These include construction inflation, the impact of unforeseen events (e.g. Covid-19), statutory changes, the contractor’s right to claim for additional true costs in line with public works contract provisions, and implementation of the 2019 PwC report recommendations.

The HSE, as the Sanctioning Authority and capital funder for the programme, manage NPHDB funding within the overall health capital envelope. To date the original budget has not been depleted. However, as a result of costs outside of the original budget and those associated with programme prolongation the original sanctioned budget will be insufficient. No requests for additional budget sanction have been submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Any additional funding requests will be brought to Government for sanction.

Despite challenges arising from, but not limited to, Brexit, the pandemic, and the invasion of Ukraine, which severely impacted global construction industry supply chains and pose more general economic challenges, work on the St. James’s site is progressing well. The external façade including glazing is almost complete and the large glass biome over the central staircase is complete. The most advanced areas have finished floors, walls, ceilings and joinery, such as nursing stations installed and equipment. The major focus in 2023 continues to be the internal fit-out and commissioning of mechanical and electrical services.

In late 2022 the first clinical rooms were completed, ready for system commissioning. The remaining 4,600 clinical rooms will follow in a sequenced manner over the coming months.