Reilly gets kids' hospital report

[Posted: Sat 09/06/2012 www.irishhealth.com]

Health Minister James Reilly has received the report of the review group which has examined proposed sites for the new national children's hospital.

The Minister will now examine the report and the Government will make as decision on the chosen site within the next few weeks.

The review group was set up by Minister Reilly after an Bord Pleanala in February rejected plans to build the hospital on the Mater site.

Over 30 site proposals have been made to the review body, including a revised plan to build the hospital at the Mater, which is still seen as the most likely site to be chosen by the Government.

Other proposed sites include Blanchardstown, the Coombe, St James's, and Tallaght Hospitals in Dublin.

Chairman of the review group Dr Frank Dolphin stressed that its terms of reference did not include selection of a specific site - this would be a matter for the Minister and the Government.

However, he said all the site options had been thoroughly examined.

It was previously envisaged, under the old Mater plans, that the children's hospital would be finished by 2016.

However, given that whatever new hospital project is chosen will have to go through the planning process, the new hospital is unlikely to be delivered within that timeframe.