Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the electronic health record IT project, providing details on the potential risks to the health capital expenditure over the medium term, and the impact of contractual disputes in connection with the National Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22178/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, the development, planning and delivery of IT projects in the health sector are matters under the responsibility of the Department of Health. Accordingly, queries regarding the current position in relation to the electronic health record project and any other e-health related projects should be directed to that Department.

However, I understand from recent information provided by the Department of Health that following on from a 2019 Government decision regarding the tendering of the National Children’s Hospital component of the electronic health record project, there is now a contract in place and staff are being recruited to support the roll out of an electronic health record system at the new hospital.

As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. Management and delivery of individual investment projects within the allocations agreed under the NDP is then a responsibility of each Department and Minister.

Accordingly, for the new National Children’s Hospital and as with all health infrastructure projects, the Department of Health is the sponsoring Department and is responsible for delivering this project in line with the national expenditure frameworks. This includes oversight of issues in relation to the enforcement of the existing live contract and dealing with claims to manage costs.

On the matter of the wider capital plan for the health sector over the medium term, it is important to note that the Department of Health has NDP allocations of €1,161 million in 2023 (as per the Revised Estimates for 2023), €1,255 million for 2024 and €1,360 million for 2025. These ceilings for 2023 to 2025 are set and will not be re-opened. My Department will be engaging with all Departments later this year in relation to agreeing NDP ceilings for 2026 to 2028 to ensure rolling 5 year medium-term capital allocations for sectors.

For the 2023 to 2025 period, it is a matter for the Department of Health to manage and prioritise project delivery within the agreed NDP allocations. It is important to note that these allocations represent increased amounts relative to previous years.