Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the planned commencement date on construction of the new children's hospital to replace Temple Street Hospital; the level of provision in key specialising which will be provided on the site; and the plans to undertake a transition for various component services to the new facilities. [20641/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the projected cost of the development of the new national paediatric hospital; the funding that has been ring-fenced or provided to date; the source of this funding; the arrangements that have been put in place to meet remaining costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20978/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the new national paediatric hospital project; the date construction of the new hospital will commence; when she expects the project to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20979/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 257 and 258 together.

The development of the National Paediatric Hospital is a priority project for the Government. The objective is to provide a world class specialist paediatric service for children in this country.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board was established in May 2007. The Board has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building, furnishing and equipping the new National Paediatric Hospital.

The Board is made up of representatives from transferring paediatric hospitals, the Faculty of Paediatrics of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the General Public and the Health Service Executive. The Executive is working closely with the Development Board in progressing the project.

The Board is in the process of recruiting a number of key personnel to progress the project to the next stage, including a Chief Officer and a Medical Director. My Department is advised that the Development Board hopes to be in a position to make these appointments shortly.

The Board is also procuring professional project management support services. Tenders for a Business Adviser Service are currently being evaluated by the Board, while invitations to tender issued recently to short-listed candidates for Planning and Design support services (including architects, engineers etc). Tenders are required to be submitted to the Board by the end of May.

Following the recruitment of the support teams, the next stage of the project will involve the preparation of a detailed Development Brief for the new hospital. This will build on the work undertaken for the HSE by RKW, which involved the preparation of a High Level Framework Brief for the hospital. The target of the Board is to have the Development Brief completed by the end of the 1st Quarter 2009.

The Brief will be converted into a detailed design, outlining the exact dimensions and specifications for the new hospital, to allow the project proceed to tender for construction.

The HSE Draft Capital Plan includes provision for the bulk of the anticipated cost through National Development Plan Exchequer funding. The final cost will not be known until completion of the detailed Development Brief.

The legal requirements to enable the transfer of the designated site for the hospital to the HSE have been agreed. The legal firm representing the Mater Hospital has been instructed to proceed with the execution of the agreement for the transfer.

I look forward to continuing progress on this important development.

My Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to revert to the Deputies on the specific operational issues raised.