Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

268. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made on the development of the national children's hospital since the selection of the site at St. James's Hospital in autumn 2012; the timelines for the next steps in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31766/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In November 2012, the Government decided that the new children’s hospital will be co-located with St James’s on its campus, and ultimately tri-located on the campus with a maternity hospital. Satellite centres, which will share governance and staffing with the new children’s hospital, will be built on the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is responsible for this priority capital project, and is focused on delivering the new hospital on schedule, to optimal design and value for money. The board members have the necessary construction, architectural, engineering, planning and procurement expertise to deliver this complex and large-scale project. A decant strategy for the site is in place and is actively being progressed. A preferred design team has been selected following a rigorous procurement process and is expected to be appointed in July, subject to the mandatory standstill period.

The project brief, which the development board submitted for approval in May 2014, describes the scope and scale of the proposed hospital and its satellite centres, and outlines the services, projected activity and capacity that these facilities are intended to provide. It covers the proposed organisational structure and physical accommodation needed to deliver safe, high quality healthcare for children and young people in Ireland over forthcoming decades. My predecessor, Deputy Reilly, announced on 1 July that the project brief for the new children’s hospital had been approved by the HSE, with his consent. Project brief approval allows for appointment of the design team which will then begin design development, with the aim of submitting a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in February 2015.