Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Health the date on which a decision will be made on the location of the new National Children's Hospital; the process and criteria that is being used to decide on the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As you will be aware, I established an independent Review Group to consider the implications of the decision of An Bord Pleanála, received on 23 February 2012, to reject the planning application for the proposed construction of a national paediatric hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The aim of the Review was to consider all the possible options for the earliest possible delivery of a new children's hospital having regard to: Government policy on the delivery of health services, including accessibility and paediatric services in particular and best clinical practice considerations; the cost and value for money considerations of the different options; the likely timelines associated with the different options; and the implementations risks associated with the different options.

In June, the Group presented its report, to which I have been giving careful consideration and which I intend to bring to Government shortly.