National children's hospital funding
Deputy Mattie McGrath asked why he had not received detailed information on state spending on the national paediatric hospital. After procedural exchanges, the Public Expenditure Minister said data-sharing legislation was being drafted, pre-legislative scrutiny was being arranged, and that a proposal would go to Cabinet after analysis of value for money and the best outcome for children.
In the programme for Government with regard to the data-sharing and governance Bill, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's mission statement is to serve the country's people and the Government by delivering well managed and well targeted public spending through modernised, effective and accountable public services. In light of this, will the Taoiseach clarify why, when I asked the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to provide me with details of all moneys provided by the State since 2006 towards the development, design and delivery of a national paediatric hospital, he declined the question and I could not go through the Ceann Comhairle? Is this the new politics to which the programme for Government aspires, that we cannot get an answer from the line Minister in the House on a very important issue? We speak about sick children and the need for transparency and the need to stop this runaway train, which has gone from €404 million to almost €1 billion without fit-out or IT.
Comment on this
The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is the man who keeps charge of all public expenditure.
Comment on this
It is indeed, Deputy Howlin. The legislation on data sharing is being drafted.
We are in contact with the relevant Oireachtas committee to see if we can secure the time for prelegislative scrutiny of the second matter Deputy Mattie McGrath raised, regarding the national children's hospital. The Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, and I are committed to the delivery of that project.
Comment on this
Deputy Mattie McGrath is commenting on figures that he has not seen.
Comment on this
The Minister, Deputy Harris, will prepare a proposal, on which my own Department will engage, and when we have concluded an analysis of value for money and of what is the right thing for children in our country for the next 50 years, a proposal will be taken to Cabinet at which a decision will be made.