merrion street

Please find below the Terms of Reference for the Review Group to examine the decision of An Bord Pleanala related to the proposed siting of the National Children's Hospital. On the 23rd of February An Bord Pleanala rejected a proposal to locate the Children's Hospital on the site of the Mater Hospital.

Today the Cabinet agreed to the following Terms of Reference for the Review Group which is to be chaired by Dr Frank Dolphin.

Also please find attached excerpts from a doorstep involving Minister Reilly in the wake of the cabinet meeting.

The Minister for Health has decided to establish an independent group to consider the implications of the decision of An Bord Pleanala (ref 29N.PA0024) 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 Minister and the Government have re-affirmed their commitment to the construction of a national children’s hospital as a Government priority.

The terms of reference of the group are as follows:

To inform itself about the planning considerations and processes affecting this project.

To consider the different options which now exist for progressing the construction of a national children’s hospital having regard to –

(a)        Government policy on the delivery of health services, including accessibility and paediatric services in particular and best clinical practice considerations,

(b)        the cost and value for money considerations of the different options,

(c)        the likely timelines associated with the different options,

(d)        the implementation risks associated with the different options.

To advise him, in the light of these considerations, on the appropriate next steps to take with a view to ensuring that a national paediatric hospital can be constructed with minimal delay.

To report to the Minister within 56 days of the first meeting of the group.