Health Minister: National Childrens Hospital decision cannot be rushed

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly said today that the Government will make a decision on the location of the new National Children's Hospital in a matter of weeks.

Planning permission for the hospital on the Mater site was refused by An Bord Pleanála earlier this year.

A report into the suitability of several sites has been prepared and is now being considered by Minister Reilly before it goes to Cabinet.

"Whilst I want this done expeditiously, I don’t want it rushed and I don't want what we've seen happen already, in relation to the previous site, happen again," he said.

"It would be catastrophic if we were to run into the same difficulty again having expended perhaps another year in that process to get refused permission again.

"We have to consider all that's in that report, and it's my intention to do that."