Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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827. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed new national children's hospital; when this project is likely to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22773/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The new children's hospital is a commitment in the Programme for Government and is a priority for me and for this Government. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is responsible for delivering the new hospital on schedule, to optimal design and value for money. The Board’s membership reflects the skills and expertise required to achieve that, including construction, planning, engineering, procurement and architecture as well as clinical and stakeholder involvement. The Board is now in the final phase of the selection process for the appointment of a design team. The full design team is expected to be appointed in June, following which design development will begin, in order to submit an application for planning permission in February 2015. Construction is scheduled to commence in August 2015, and the transition of services to the new hospital is on schedule to commence at the end of 2018.