The Department of Health has said it is updating the cost of building the new National Children's Hospital due to increases in construction costs.
Briefing papers for the recently appointed Minister for Health, Simon Harris, say the original estimate of €650m was set in 2014, when the average rate for construction inflation was 3%.
The documents state that industry commentators are reporting significant increases with current 2016 ranges of up to 7.5%.
As a result, the expected impact to the cost of the overall project is currently being examined and cost estimates are being updated.
The last government committed to making €200m available from the sale of the National Lottery for the new hospital, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding.
Planning approval was recently granted for the project at the St James's Hospital campus.
The department has published the 124 pages of briefing papers for the minister on its website.
Blood Bank financial viability
The briefing papers also show that the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is forecasting a deficit in the region of €2.4m this year arising from its pension costs.
While the core business of the company is performing well, "historical pension costs continue to impact on its financial viability".
The papers say that increases in the price of blood and blood products will be required to put the company on a firm financial footing.
Consultant pay
The Health Service Executive has received nearly 400 pay claims from solicitors representing hospital consultants pursuing payment of wages claims.
In December, the Employment Appeals Tribunal found in favour of two consultants.
The claims relate to a significant pay increase for consultants of about €25,000 a year who moved from the 1997 contract to the 2008 contract, which provided for a series of increases in pay.
The minister delayed payment of the first two phases to 1 January 2009 and then decided not to sanction the outstanding phase due from 1 June 2009.
HSE staffing
The document says that due to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform concerns around the Heath Service Executive's ability to meet planned pay and staffing levels, its 2015 strategy was not approved.
The HSE is preparing a 2016 'Pay and Numbers Strategy' for hospital and community services and will submit this to department for approval.
The executive last week confirmed it had implemented a recruitment pause pending this report.
Narcolepsy
The papers show that as of April, the Health Products Regulatory Authority had received 81 reports confirming a diagnosis of the sleeping disorder, narcolepsy with symptom onset following pandemic vaccination.
Legal proceedings against the minister, the HSE and GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA have been initiated by 42 individuals.
The State Claims Agency is managing the claims.
The papers note that the plaintiffs' solicitors have submitted an extensive Voluntary Discovery request in respect of one case.
A High Court hearing has been scheduled for June at which an Order of Discovery is expected to be made.
Symphysiotomy claims
The Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme began in November 2014 as an ex-gratia scheme for women who underwent a symphysiotomy or pubiotomy in the State between 1940 and 1990.
In all, 578 applications were accepted and 156 were deemed ineligible.
400 offers have been made. So far 386 have been accepted and just one offer has been rejected.
The offers made ranged between €50,000 and €150,000.
The scheme has paid out €31 million to mid April, including awards and legal costs.
There are some redactions in the briefing papers, mainly in the areas of consultants' pay, ambulance services, maternity care, Thalidomide claims, GP services, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) and Newborn Bloodspot Screening.
