The Government has committed, under the Programme for Government, to the construction of the New Children's Hospital.
Since appointment as Minister, I have been engaged in discussions with my officials and with the National Paediatric Hospital Board in order to brief myself on the work done on this project to date. I want to be clear about how we can best provide the hospital in the most cost effective manner while ensuring a high quality service for our children and young people.
I am currently considering the evidence presented to me and will make a decision, based on that evidence, as to how to proceed. In particular I wish to be satisfied that the hospital will provide the best possible clinical outcomes for children and young people, that its location best meets their needs and that the cost of building the hospital is both realistic and affordable to the exchequer.
You may rest assured that I wish to avoid any unnecessary delay to the development of this very important project.