Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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774. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the traffic assessment carried out in the site selection process in respect of a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41985/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Dolphin Review Group was appointed in March 2012 to advise the Minister for Health on the options for the new children's hospital, following the refusal by An Bord Pleanala of planning permission for the hospital at the Mater campus. The Group was not asked to select a site. In carrying out its work, the Group considered submissions from a number of adult hospitals in Dublin. St James's included a traffic report as part of its overall submission.

The Group's report was completed in June 2012 and submitted to the Minister for Health. In identifying the site for the new children's hospital, the Government carefully considered the Dolphin Group's report, along with detailed supplementary information on cost, time and planning which was subsequently sought from members of the Group with the relevant technical expertise. Ease of access was one of the issues considered in the planning analysis.

The Government decided in November 2012 that the new children's hospital should be co-located with St James's on its campus. While cost, time and access were all considered, the decision was led by clinical considerations. It is essential that the new children's hospital can deliver best clinical outcomes for children. Co-location with St James's and, ultimately, tri-location with a maternity hospital on the St James's campus, will provide the excellence in clinical care that our children deserve. The submissions from the Dublin adult hospitals referred to above, the Dolphin report, and the supplementary planning analysis were all published on the website of the Department of Health following the Government's decision.

The design team for the project, which is now in place, includes traffic consultancy services as a key component. The role of these services within the overall design team will include modelling of access routes and development of a mobility management plan to address traffic peaks. Design development is underway with the aim of submitting a planning application next June. Subject to planning, it is intended that site clearance and enabling works will begin in January 2016.