Reilly hopes to have planning permission for Childrens Hospital by Dec 2014

The Health Minister James Reilly has said there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes to get the new National Children’s Hospital off the ground.

Dr Reilly is being quizzed in the Dáil about how long it will take to build the hospital at St. James' and why there is a delay in appointing a new design team and permanent board.

Minister Reilly said he hopes that they will have full planning permission by the end of next year.

He said: "In this first phase of the project, the transitional board is focussed on reconciling the brief with the new site, site preparation, close-out of existing contracts and new procurement processes.

"A joint group, involving the HSE and St James' Hospital, are meeting regularly to progress the enabling and decamp work required."