merrion street

The Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has today (16th May 2012) agreed to an extension of the deadline for the receipt of the report of the Review Group on the National Paediatric Hospital.

The move follows a request from the Chairman of the group, Dr Frank Dolphin, seeking a 14 day extension. The group, which was established by the Government to review the decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse permission for the hospital on the Mater Hospital site, had been due to report next week.

Please find attached the letter from Dr Dolphin requesting the extension of time. As the Minister has agreed to the request it is considered appropriate to publish the letter which seeks that extra time. You will note that the letter refers to a list of groups that have already been seen by the Review Group. It also confirms that the Group has not yet completed its schedule of meetings with stakeholders and interested parties.

As the work of the Review Group is not yet complete it is considered appropriate to wait 'til the end of the process to provide the list of entities and groups that will have made submissions.

A redacted copy of Dr. Dolphin's correspondence is attached below: