As you will be aware, I established an independent Review Group, chaired by Dr Frank Dolphin, to consider the implications of the decision of An Bord Pleanála to reject the planning application for the proposed construction of the new children's hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The report of that Group, chaired by Dr Frank Dolphin, was presented to me in June. My Department sought further detailed analysis on technical issues from those members of the Dolphin Group with the relevant technical expertise.
There is no "four-man group" as described in the details provided by the Deputy. Two of the individuals named are members of the Dolphin Group. Informal contact has been made with the other two individuals named in regard to the new children's hospital. No formal advice or report has been sought from them and no "four-man group" has been established. My recommendation to Government in regard to the location of the hospital will be based on the Dolphin report together with the supplementary analysis provided by a number of its members.