Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the new national children's hospital project; the budget for this project; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24379/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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My objective, and that of the Government, is to ensure the provision of a world-class hospital to serve the children of this country. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the HSE are making very good progress in their work to bring this important project to fruition. The Integrated Design Team, appointed in Oct 2009, completed the concept designs for the new children's hospital and the Ambulatory & Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght in February 2010. The tendering process for the enabling works for the ceded site on Eccles Street has commenced. This work is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2010 subject to planning permission being secured.

The HSE have indicated that the capital development cost of the hospital will be approximately €750m. It is intended that €400m of this funding will be provided from the Exchequer for the hospital build. The remainder will be raised from other sources, including philanthropic contributions. To date, €21.8m has been expended on the project. I am very pleased to note that the planning of the new hospital is proceeding on schedule and due to be operational by the end of 2014.