Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding preliminary planning and preparation in respect of the proposed new children's hospital; when it is expected the project will start; if the current project is likely to benefit from the preparatory work undertaken in respect of a previous site at an estimated cost of €50 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7377/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the body responsible for the planning, design, building and equipping of the new children's hospital capital project. The project is currently in the design procurement stage. A Procurement Open Day was held on 25 November last, the shortlisting of design teams is now being completed and this will be followed by the invitation to tender for those shortlisted. Decant planning, updating of the St James’s site masterplan and pre-application planning discussions have been ongoing in relation to the site. The aim is to have the site cleared by the end of this year, to have a planning decision and commence construction in Spring 2015, and to begin transition of services to the new children's hospital at the end of 2018. In parallel with the construction of the new children's hospital, the operational integration of the three existing children's hospitals is of critical importance in ensuring that the new hospital functions effectively from the outset. A Children's Hospital Group involving the three hospitals has been established, the core function of which is to integrate the three children's hospitals staff and service provision, well in advance of the new hospital being built.

In October 2013, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform announced that up to €200m would be made available for the new Children’s Hospital from the sale of the National Lottery, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding. The level of funding now in place underlines the Government’s commitment to this priority project. Also, philanthropic / non-Exchequer funding will be sought to the maximum and most appropriate degree. Estimated costs will be reviewed and refined at each stage as the project progresses. The total spent on the new children’s hospital to date is €41m. Much of the work that was done for the project on its previous site can be transferred to the new site, in particular health care planning and preparation of the design brief which has been updated for the project in its new location.