Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timeframe in terms of making a decision regarding the siting of the new National Children's Hospital in the Mater; when she anticipates contracts will be entered into in terms of the building of this new hospital between either her Department or the Health Service Executive and prospective builders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5982/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The decision by the Government to locate the new National Paediatric Hospital at the Mater has recently been re-affirmed. The development of the hospital is being overseen by a joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Transition Group and the project is proceeding as planned.

The next stage of the process involves the preparation of a high level framework brief for the new hospital. The brief is being developed for the 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. In this context RKW have 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.

RKW is consulting widely in the course of its work, and in this context the input of all 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.