Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the provision of a new national children's hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22319/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to review the proposal to locate the new children's hospital adjacent to the Mater Hospital; if she has received or examined the compelling submissions from experts including consultants who are adamant that the previously available site for the children's hospital has greater advantages in terms of future development potential, accessibility and space for the provision of ancillary or support facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24497/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 245 together.

I have no plans to review the decision to locate the new National Paediatric Hospital on a site to be made available at the Mater Hospital, Dublin. As the House is aware, a joint Health Service Executive/Department of Health and Children Task Group was established in February 2006 to advise on the optimum location for the development of a new National Paediatric Hospital. The Task Group recommended that the new hospital be developed as an independent hospital on a site to be made available by the Mater Hospital. This recommendation was accepted by the Board of the Health Service Executive.

Following the Government's decision to endorse the recommendation of the HSE Board, a joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Transition Group was established to advance the development of the national tertiary paediatric hospital on the Mater site. A high level framework brief for the new hospital, developed for the Transition Group by Rawlinson Kelly & Whittlestone Ltd (RKW), an established UK-based health care planning company, is virtually complete. The brief will set out the preferred model of care, the core services to be delivered at the new hospital, and the additional range of services to be provided in an urgent/ambulatory care setting.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has been established. The primary function of the Board is to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new national paediatric hospital. Since its establishment, the Board has had the opportunity to familiarise itself with the project and to prepare for the recruitment of a Chief Officer, and the implementation of the High Level Framework Brief.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position on the Government's plans for co-location of private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals; the projects in respect of which contracts have been signed; the projects with which it is intended to proceed where contracts have still to be signed; the expected date on which building will commence for each project; the projected completion date in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24030/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Board of the Health Service Executive approved the preferred bidder status for the following six co-located hospital sites at its July meeting:—

Waterford Regional Hospital

Cork University Hospital

Limerick Regional Hospital

Sligo General Hospital

Beaumont Hospital

St. James's Hospital

It is expected that the signing of the project agreements for these sites will be completed during October and November. Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital, which are also participating in the co-location initiative, are at an earlier stage of the procurement process. A tender proposal in relation to the former is under consideration. It is expected that the invitation to tender (ITT) for Tallaght Hospital will issue in the near future. It is expected that the co-located private hospitals will most likely open within 3 years of receiving planning permission.