Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the development of the new National Children’s Hospital [40049/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body with statutory responsibility for building the new children's hospital. Last month I announced appointments to this Board to replace the transitional Board which had been in place since January 2013. These appointments ensure appropriate professional membership with the necessary capital development expertise and experience in complex healthcare capital projects. Also in August I announced the appointment of members to the Children’s Hospital Group Board. This Board will oversee the operational integration of the three existing paediatric hospitals in advance of the move to the new hospital and is also the client for the new hospital, and hence is critically important for the project as a whole. Earlier this month, Ms Eilísh Hardiman was selected as CEO of the Children's Hospital Group following an open recruitment process through the Public Appointments Service.

With regard to the progress of the capital project, the tender process for the procurement of a new design team is well underway, and the aim is to have the new design team in place by the end of 2013. Pre-application planning discussions have commenced and the aim is to secure planning permission by December 2014. A review of urgent care centre(s) configuration is almost complete; the number and location of these satellite centres in the Dublin area is a key decision, as the size, activity and infrastructure of these satellite centre(s) has implications for the main hospital brief. In parallel, St. James's Hospital is working closely with HSE Estates and the National Paediatric Development Board in regard to the decant phase of the project.

The new children’s hospital is a priority for me and for this Government. I am confident that the appointments made to the two Boards will ensure the new hospital is completed as swiftly as possible, with optimal design and value for money.