Mr. Fred Barry:

I thank the committee for inviting me to address it. I am here in my capacity as chair designate of the NPHDB.

The development board has the remit to design, build and equip a new national children's hospital on the campus shared with St. James's Hospital and the two paediatric outpatients and urgent care centres on the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and Tallaght University Hospital campuses. Considerable progress has been made on this remit to date. The Connolly facility will open later this year and construction of the main hospital at St. James's and of the Tallaght facility has commenced. I acknowledge the contribution and personal commitment of my predecessor, Mr. Tom Costello, in chairing the development board to this point.

My background is relevant to my proposed role. I am a chartered engineer, with additional qualifications in management, law, arbitration and mediation. I have worked internationally on the design and construction of many very large capital projects and was group managing director for the UK and Ireland with Jacobs, one of the world's largest engineering companies. I worked in the public sector as chief executive of the National Roads Authority, NRA, at a time when we built much of the motorway network. I have extensive board experience in both the private and public sectors.

The new children's hospital is not just another big infrastructure project. It is much more than that. It will be transformational for the care we give our children and young people, who represent approximately one quarter of our population. I am honoured to be asked to play a role in its development and I look forward to working with the board of Children's Health Ireland on this great national project.

I am happy to answer whatever questions the committee may have.