Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2013
615. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in announcing the appointment of a development board for the National Paediatric Hospital in the St James's Hospital complex, Dublin, and its remit. [30719/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body charged with the planning, design, building, furnishing and equipping of the new children’s hospital. I propose to restructure the Board, so that it focuses specifically on the capital project. I am currently considering proposals for appointments to the Board to ensure appropriate professional membership with the necessary capital development expertise and experience in complex healthcare capital projects.
The current Board, which comprises of officials from the Department of Health and the HSE, is progressing a number of key issues at this critical early stage of the project, including reconciliation of the design brief with the new site, site preparation and new procurement processes. Procurement of a design team has begun with the publication on 13 June of a Prior Information Notice, which will be followed shortly by publication of the contract notice for the design team tender. The overall aim at this stage of the project is to secure planning permission by December 2014.
