Hospitals Building Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2012

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Ceisteanna (197, 198, 199, 200, 201)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

198 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his plans for the new national children’s hospital; if he will summarise the terms for selection of the new site; the main changes from previous selection criteria; the number of sites now under consideration; the groups that have been met by him, his advisers or officials; the details of same; the information on the scoring of proposals that has been made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25693/12]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

199 Deputy Liam Twomey asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions the review group has received regarding the national children’s hospital; the number that are being discussed with the authors of the submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25711/12]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

200 Deputy Liam Twomey asked the Minister for Health the number of sites that are under discussion by the review group regarding the national children’s hospital; the number of groups or individuals that have been interviewed or will be interviewed before issuing a final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25712/12]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

201 Deputy Liam Twomey asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings the review group held themselves regarding the national children’s hospital; and the attendance rate for members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25713/12]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

202 Deputy Liam Twomey asked the Minister for Health the way the review group assess the sites they do not visit regarding the national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25714/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 to 202, inclusive, together.

As you will be aware, I have established an independent Review Group to consider the implications of the decision of An Bórd Pleanála, received on 23 February 2012, to reject the planning application for the proposed construction of a national paediatric hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The aim of the Review is to consider all the possible options for the earliest possible delivery of a new children's hospital and the Group will present its findings on each of the possible options for my consideration. I will await the completion of the Group's work before making any further comment on the matter.