An Bord Pleanàla’s decision on the National Paediatric Hospital is due to be made this Friday (February 24).
The decision, which is whether the project can be as termed strategic infrastructure, was due to be made on January 26. Under strategic infrastructure legislation, under which the National Paediatric Hospital is being considered, an Bord has 18 weeks to make a decision once the consultation and submission process has closed.
The planning body has claimed that the delay is because it lacked the resources to make the decision by the deadline given the complexities of the case.
Currently, there are only four people on the board, when usually there are seven, as members whose terms ended at the end of last year have not been replaced.
If the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board receives a positive decision, it will begin the process of tendering for a building contractor, and raising funds for the development, which is estimated will cost €650 million.
