National children’s hospital legislation
Mary Lou McDonald seeks progress on the St. James’s children’s hospital and national paediatric hospital development board legislation, as well as domestic violence legislation. The Taoiseach says the hospital board is established and a development plan is expected shortly, but gives no date for the other Bill.
I wish to raise two issues. One year has passed since the decision to locate the new children's hospital at St. James's Hospital. A new heart centre at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin which was privately financed is opening today. People are watching and wondering when the new children's hospital will be delivered. A deal has been struck to sell the national lottery-----
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-----and the Taoiseach has indicated that money is going to be ring-fenced. When will the national paediatric hospital development board Bill be brought forward? Will the Taoiseach also indicate when the consolidated domestic violence legislation will be forthcoming?
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I do not have a date for the publication of the second item of legislation to which the Deputy referred.
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The Minister for Health has appointed the chairperson and members of the national paediatric hospital development board. The board has access to the necessary expertise, including that relating to planning, to deliver the project successfully. The comprehensive review of the tri-location plan is part of this process. I expect that a comprehensive plan for the stages of development of the new national children's hospital will be forthcoming in the very short term. This plan will include timelines for how long it will take for planning permission to be obtained and when work will start. I will come back to the Deputy with a date for the publication of the legislation.