Children's hospital Bill
Deputy Durkan asked about promised legislation and progress on the new children’s hospital. The Taoiseach said the heads of the Bill were due soon, pre-clearance works were under way, and the project remained on target.
Speaking on health issues, the new children's hospital establishment Bill is promised legislation. What progress has there been and what is the hospital project's state of development?
Comment on this
We are expecting the heads of that Bill a little later on, but I think that everything is on target for commencement of the actual building. I understand that some pre-clearance works are being done. Clearly, the Minister will bring a business memorandum to Government in respect of the funding and the costing and the arrangements to pay for the national children's hospital. This, however, is something that we must do. It began, indeed, during Deputy Howlin's exemplary time as a Minister. It will be the single biggest piece of health and medical infrastructure in the history of the State and will serve the children of the island for the next 50 years.