926. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the future of the National Children’s Science Centre project; to detail any recent costs incurred on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58991/26]

The arbitration between Irish Children’s Museum Limited (ICML) and the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland (OPW) resulted in a Final Award in mid-December 2025. The Award provides that the OPW shall carry out and complete all Landlord’s Works consistent with ICML’s objective of operating a national interactive science museum for children, as set out in the earlier Agreement for Lease.

The next step, as set out in the Final Award, is the completion of the detailed design documents required for tender preparation.

The OPW is redeveloping the Earlsfort Terrace campus under Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan. Given the campus-wide approach, Building Information Management (BIM) and engineering design costs which have been incurred have been charged to the North Wing. Consultant engineers are engaged in relation to BIM and civil and structural engineering design elements associated with fire safety certification. This work is primarily facilitating the development of the two ongoing projects on the National Concert Hall site, under the sponsorship of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, as part of their National Development Plan programme. As advised to the Public Accounts Committee on 11th June, the above spending which related to the North Wing amounted to €22,862.42. Additional expenditure relating to essential works in the overall development is currently under assessment.

The OPW is considering the Public Accounts Committee interim report published on 16 July 2026 and will respond to its recommendations.