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National Children's Hospital

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Questions (437, 438)

Barry Cowen

Question:

437. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the appointment of a HSE staff member and the appointment of a Department of Public Expenditure and Reform official to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6656/19]

View answer

Barry Cowen

Question:

438. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons appointed to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board since it was set up in 2007; the expertise of these appointees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.

Established under the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is charged with planning, designing, building and equipping the new children’s hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres.

The 2007 Order provides that the Board will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members appointed by the Minister for Health for a period of five years. Of the 12 ordinary members, three shall be appointed to represent the interests of the general public; three shall be appointed on the nomination of the Chairperson; two shall be appointed on the nomination of the Health Service Executive; one shall be appointed on the nomination of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; one shall be appointed on the nomination of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street; one shall be appointed on the nomination of the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght; and one shall be appointed on the nomination of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

In 2007, the Chairperson and ordinary board members that were appointed collectively had wide-ranging experience and expertise in areas such as public and private sector management, capital infrastructure management, finance, ICT, construction, communications, health and hospital management, and paediatric medicine.

Following An Bord Pleanála's refusal for Mater site project an interim Board of officials was appointed in January 2013 until July 2013, when a new Board was appointed to progress the project on the St. James's campus. The skill set associated with the new Board includes construction management, legal expertise, engineering and environmental consultancy, architecture, paediatric medicine, planning, procurement, accountancy, ICT and hospital management. This Board was re-appointed in July 2018 on expiry of their five-year term of office. As noted above, as provided for under the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007, two of the Board members are appointed on the nomination of the HSE, and three to represent the interests of the general public. It is under that latter provision that the official from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was appointed.

The Children's Health Act 2018 amended the 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. To allow for the appointment of a Board under the new provisions sooner than on the expiry of the five-year term of office, the Act also includes a provision which, when commenced, provides for the cessation of membership of the Board in place at the time of commencement of the provision.

As set out in the NPHDB Annual Reports, a total of 42 individuals have been appointed to the NPHDB to date since its establishment in 2007.

Questions Nos. 439 and 440 answered with Question No. 426.
Question No. 441 answered with Question No. 428.
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