John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Health when the memorandum for information to Government relating to the children’s hospital capital project will be completed; the timeframe for the commencement of the enabling works contracts; when the general scheme of a Bill to establish a new children’s hospital body will be brought to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13700/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The decision to locate the new children's hospital at the St James's campus was based on the over-riding priority of best clinical outcomes for our children and, in particular, the sickest of these. The planned new facilities will provide us with the means to deliver on improved health outcomes for children, especially the sickest children in Ireland. I am delighted at the unanimous decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for these vital new facilities as designed.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The NPHDB has commenced the tender process for enabling works contractors for the St James’s site and tender returns have been received. It is expected that the enabling works contractor will be appointed in the coming weeks, for commencement on site in July. It is expected that the satellite centres can open in 2018, significantly enhancing access to urgent care and outpatient services for children from the Greater Dublin Area. Building work on the main site will be completed in 2020. I intend to bring a Memorandum for Information to Government in the coming weeks, advising of the progress of the project.

My Department is currently working on the General Scheme of a Bill to establish a single entity, bringing together the existing hospitals, to govern and manage the new hospital, and I intend to bring this to Government as soon as possible.