Mr. John Pollock:

Deputy Louise Reilly's question was linked with this issue. In terms of timelines, we are further on than the Rotunda Hospital in moving to Connolly Hospital because we have done two things. First, we have a master plan in place. We have physically identified the location of the site. Second, we have future-proofed our services within the children's hospital. For instance, in the case of the energy centre, clinical sterilisation servuce and facilities management, FM, logistics, we have built in spare capacity for when the maternity unit will come on line. That will help to bring down costs. The Rotunda Hospital is not as far advanced. A master plan for the site has not been completed.

I am not aware of when the Government will commit funding, but I estimate that it will take approximately two years from when the funding is committed to develop the brief, lodge the planning application with An Bord Pleanála and receive planning permission for the St. James's hospital site. Thereafter, it will probably take two years to buiild the hospital. If the Government was to commit funding, that would be the timeframe involved, but it is a matter for the Government to decide.