Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that all children with special needs who are receiving hospital treatment are given a little extra space and assistance; the provisions that have been made for these children in the new Children's Hospital as they will require more space and attention; and if not, if she will plan for same. [4245/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The next stage of the process in developing the new National Paediatric Hospital involves the preparation of a high-level framework brief for the new hospital. The brief is being developed for the Joint Transition Group by Rawlinson Kelly & Whittlestone Ltd (RKW), an established UK-based health care planning company. RKW will be advising on a range of issues which will help to inform the design of the new hospital. They will be advising, for example, on the preferred model of care, on the core services to be delivered at the new hospital, and on the additional range of services to be provided outside of the main hospital. RKW have also been requested to advise, as a priority, on the range of services which should be provided outside of the main hospital through the urgent/ambulatory care service, taking account of international best practice in the planning of children's hospital services. The framework brief will also inform decisions in relation to the size and type of accommodation to be provided at the new hospital, for both patients and their parents or guardians.

RKW will be consulting widely in the course of its work, and the input of stakeholders will be of benefit in ensuring the delivery of our shared objective of providing a world-class hospital for the children of this country, including those children who have special needs.