THE NEW CHILDREN’S Hospital will not submit a planning application until next year, but a spokesperson insists it will still be ready to open in 2018.

The hospital had hoped to make a planning submission by autumn, but that has been moved to the other side of Christmas, as the process of appointing a design team is delayed.

A spokesperson for the hospital told TheJournal.ie that the process of planning will be front-loaded.

“The Development Board of the new children’s hospital has moved into the final selection phase for the design team, with the issue of tender documents to all short-listed firms.

“The Board aims to appoint the full design team in June with the target of making a planning submission in February 2015.”

The hospital says that it aims to begin taking on medical services in 2018.

The Development Board had previously hoped to have a design team appointed by April with the target of submitting planning permission in the autumn. However, the process of design team procurement is now expected to be completed in June. The hospital says this will allow financial evaluations be carried out. Tendering and shortlisting of architects has already been done.

John Pollock, project director for the new children’s hospital said, “One of our primary goals in this process is to deliver the best value for money for what is a vitally important public project.

“We are confident that by investing the maximum time possible in detailed project planning and by opting for the most appropriate procurement approach, we will reap the benefits as we move on site in August 2015 and work towards commencing transition of services at the end of 2018.”

Read: Delay in appointing National Children’s Hospital design team but construction begins in 2015