Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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615. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in announcing the appointment of a Development Board for the the National Paediatric Hospital in the St James's Hospital complex, Dublin, and its remit [30719/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body charged with the planning, design, building, furnishing and equipping of the new children’s hospital. I propose to restructure the Board, so that it focuses specifically on the capital project. I am currently considering proposals for appointments to the Board to ensure appropriate professional membership with the necessary capital development expertise and experience in complex healthcare capital projects.

The current Board, which comprises of officials from the Department of Health and the HSE, is progressing a number of key issues at this critical early stage of the project, including reconciliation of the design brief with the new site, site preparation and new procurement processes. Procurement of a design team has begun with the publication on 13 June of a Prior Information Notice, which will be followed shortly by publication of the contract notice for the design team tender. The overall aim at this stage of the project is to secure planning permission by December 2014.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the first sod to be turned on the National Paediatric Hospital in the St James's Hospital complex, Dublin; and the expected design, build and commissioning timeframe of the project [30720/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the delays in getting the the National Paediatric Hospital in the St James's Hospital complex, Dublin, to design, planning permission stage, if consideration is being given to reverting to the Coombe Hospital bid to have it built on lands adjacent to it, while at the same time building the proposed new National Maternity Hospital [30721/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.

On 6 November last, I announced the Government's decision to locate the new children's hospital on the St James's campus. This completed consideration on the location of the hospital. Co-location, and ultimately tri-location with a maternity hospital, on the St James's campus will support the provision of excellence in clinical care that our children deserve.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body with statutory responsibility for building the new children's hospital. Since the current Board was appointed in January, it has focused on a number of key issues. These include reconciliation of the design brief with the new site, site preparation and new procurement processes. The overall aim at this stage of the project is to secure planning permission by December 2014.

Work on developing a detailed project timeline beyond 2014 is continuing, recognising the urgency and priority attached to the project, as well as its scale and complexity. This is a very large and very complex capital project, and is of huge importance for the provision of acute paediatric services for all children in Ireland. I am determined to ensure that it is completed as swiftly as possible, with optimal design and value for money.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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618. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in announcing the specifications of the much publicised new National Paediatric Hospital, Dublin; and when will planning permission be sought for the project [30722/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Work on developing a detailed project time-line for the Children's Hospital is continuing, recognising the urgency and priority attached to the project, as well as its scale and complexity. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the design tender was published on 13 June, and this will be followed by publication of the contract notice for procurement of the design team. The intention is to have the new design team in place as soon as possible, while complying with the EU directives and national guidelines on procurement. The aim is to secure planning permission by December 2014.