The issue of naming rights for a family accommodation building at the National Children's Hospital site is not behind a decision by Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland (RMHC) to decide to pull back from funding the full capital cost of the building, both the Department of Health and the charity have told RTÉ's Prime Time.
The Irish Times reported today that the State is facing a €10m-plus bill to provide family accommodation at the hospital after it declined to give naming rights to the McDonald's-linked charity that will operate the facility.
But the Department of Health told Prime Time that the charity's position in relation to raising sufficient funds to cover the entire capital costs is not linked to any issue about naming rights.
The charity itself said the plan was still to name the building 'Ronald McDonald House', that it would pay €1m towards its annual running costs and that it had not discussed any issue of naming rights with the Health Service Executive.
The Department of Health said: "There has not been any consideration or proposal put forward to the department in relation to RMHC being given any naming rights in relation to any facility in the new hospital.
"The charity's position in relation to raising sufficient funds to cover the entire capital and running costs of the family accommodation unit is not linked to any issue about naming rights in relation to any facility in the new hospital or the family accommodation unit."
In a statement, the CEO of Ronald McDonald Charities Ireland said: "The issue of naming rights has not been discussed between RMHC and the HSE in relation to the plans for the new family accommodation unit. The charity's focus to date has been on fundraising to help realise the plans for the new Ronald McDonald House and to continue to provide vital accommodation and support to families with sick children at the current house at Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin".
RMHC is an Irish registered charity, run by a board of voluntary trustees. It says that since 2004, it has helped 3,778 families, with no State funding, but with the backing of a wide network of individuals and businesses.
The charity is the agreed accommodation partner for the new children's hospital and planning permission has been approved for its Ronald McDonald House on the hospital campus site.
RMHC says it will cover the annual running costs of the facility at over €1m per annum. It says it is continuing to work with the HSE and the development board in relation to the plans.
The Department of Health said the RMHC service "is considered to be essential and is required into the future to support many of the families with children requiring the services of the new hospital" and that "works currently being undertaken on site (foundations and sub-structure) anticipate development of the family accommodation unit".
It said: "At the time that planning permission was granted, the charity proposed to cover all costs associated with building and running the facility, without need for HSE input, and therefore its cost was not included within the new children's hospital project brief and no provision sought in April 2017 for Exchequer funding in relation to it.
"The Charity has since advised that it does not now believe it will be able to raise sufficient funds to cover the entire capital and running costs of the family accommodation unit, and as a result has been discussing with the HSE different options for funding the capital development of the facility. It remains committed to covering all operating costs.
"In view of the cost escalation for the project, it will be necessary to explore a number of options in relation to the funding requirement for this project. This matter is still under consideration."
In a separate statement, Children's Health Ireland, for the new hospital, said: "There is no funding or sponsorship relationship between the RMHC and the new children's hospital, or Children's Health Ireland, however the charity will provide an invaluable service to families whose children are receiving treatment in the new children's hospital".
