THE CHAIRMAN of the board overseeing the construction of the new National Paediatric Hospital has resigned over the new government’s decision to delay the project.

John Gallagher, who had been a proponent of building the new hospital on the site of the Mater, today handed in his resignation to the Minister for Health, James Reilly, over his decision to take stock of the project before deciding to proceed with the construction of the new facility.

Reilly, after being appointed to government earlier this month, had announced an intention to conduct his own review into the hospital, which has come under fire after many suggested it should be moved to a greenfield site near the M50 so as to allow for greater accessibility for rurally-based patients.

At the time, Gallagher had welcomed the decision to fully review the project – but has now resigned as chairman of the hospital board, in apparent frustration about the delay to the project that Reilly’s review will trigger.

In a statement this afternoon, Reilly said he ‘regretted’ the decision but respected Gallagher’s “decision and his motives, which are entirely honourable.

“I fully understand that Mr Gallagher wants to press ahead with this important project, but I know he acknowledges that, having just become Minister for Health, I need to take sufficient time to consider all aspects of the matter.”

“As I have promised from the beginning, I am examining this project very carefully to make sure that we get the best possible quality of services for children.”

Reilly said he wished to be totally satisfied that Ireland could get the “best possible clinical outcome for children” given the resources and finance available to the state.

Gallagher had only been appointed as Chairman of the NPHDB last October, following the resignation of Philip Lynch in October. It later emerged that former health minister Mary Harney had sought the resignation.