Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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146. To ask the Minister for Health the role the National Development Finance Agency has had in the new national children’s hospital project; if the agency was entitled to be part of the board of the hospital; if not, the reason this was not the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7421/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to National Paediatric Hospital Development Board membership, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007 provided that the Board will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members appointed by the Minister for Health. Of the 12 ordinary members, three were to be appointed to represent the interests of the general public; three on the nomination of the Chairperson; two on the nomination of the Health Service Executive; one on the nomination of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; one on the nomination of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street; one on the nomination of the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght; and one on the nomination of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

The Children's Health Act 2018 includes provision to amend the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board appointment process to better reflect the Board's primary role which is to deliver on the capital project, rather than its previous broader remit which also included operational planning for the services, the latter now being a matter for Children's Health Ireland. There is nothing in either the original or revised appointment process set out in the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board Establishment Order which entitles or precludes a member of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) from being appointed to the Board.

I have asked the NDFA to reply direct to the Deputy outlining their involvement in the new children's hospital project.