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	Minister for Health Simon Harris will today seek Cabinet approval for the construction of the new National Children&#39;s Hospital.</p>
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	The billion euro project will amalgamate Temple Street Hospital, Our Lady&#39;s Hospital in Crumlin and the National Children&#39;s Hospital in Tallaght on the campus of St James&#39;s Hospital in Dublin.</p>
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	Construction is due to begin within weeks.</p>
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	After more than a decade of wrangling over its location, the new National Children&#39;s Hospital got planning permission last year on the St James&rsquo;s site.</p>
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	The new hospital will be the length of Grafton Street and will have 380 en-suite rooms and 93 day beds.</p>
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	The hospital will open at the end of 2021.</p>
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	Two satellite centres in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown and in Tallaght Hospital, where children with minor illnesses will be treated, will open from the end of 2018.</p>
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	The cost of the project has generated controversy as the final cost has risen from an original estimate of &euro;650m to over &euro;1bn.</p>
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	The Government has argued that the original estimate did not cover all the costs involved.</p>
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	Separately, the minister is expected to brief his ministerial colleagues on the ongoing controversy regarding the ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital.</p>
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	Today is also the first opportunity for the Cabinet to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens&#39; Assembly to significantly change the laws on abortion.</p>
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	However, the issue is not formally on the agenda.</p>
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	&nbsp;</p>
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	(Published by RTE.ie on the 26th April 2017)</p>
<p>
	<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0426/870353-national-childrens-hospital/">https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0426/870353-national-childrens-hospital/</a></p>
