Written answers
Monday, 8 September 2025
Department of Health
National Children's Hospital
Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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2375. To ask the Minister for Health the spending to date with a company (details supplied) and any external contractors or management consulting firms on the electronic health records system for the National Children’s Hospital, in tabular form. [45740/25]
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The cost of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for the National Children’s Hospital in Ireland is part of a larger programme budget. As of the most recent approved figures (April 2025), the Irish government has allocated a total of €360 million specifically for the integration and transition of services to the new National Children’s Hospital. This amount covers commissioning, ICT, and the Electronic Health Record. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/government-approves-increases-to-the-capital-and-current-budget-sanctions-for-the-new-childrens-hospital-project-and-programme/
Within the broader ICT programme for the hospital and its satellite centres, the capital allocation specifically for the EHR itself is €44.7 million, with a revenue allocation of €44.8 million between 2022 and 2025. The overall ICT costs (including EHR and other digital infrastructure) come to €97.7 million in capital and €72.6 million in revenue. www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/board-members/board-meetings/may-2022/4-3-b-chi-ehr.pdf
So, the direct EHR allocation within the National Children’s Hospital project is approximately €44.7 million in capital, while the broader digital and transition programme (including EHR and ICT) is €360 million. www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41576434.html
It is important to note that whilst EPIC are the company delivering the core EHR software product/ application, and some of the implementation services, there are other vendors that contribute to the overall capital cost.
Other related information:
- www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/board-members/board-meetings/may-2022/4-3-b-chi-ehr.pdf
- www.medicalindependent.ie/in-the-news/interviews/an-integrated-approach-to-digital-health/
- www.ihca.ie/news-and-publications/consultants-urge-government-to-expedite-delivery-of-electronic-health-records
- gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/government-approves-increases-to-the-capital-and-current-budget-sanctions-for-the-new-childrens-hospital-project-and-programme/
- www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/02/02/new-childrens-hospital-to-break-fresh-ground-in-digital-healthcare/
- www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41576434.html
- www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/05/12/chi-unable-to-move-in-to-national-childrens-hospital-due-to-continued-delays/
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