The planned new maternity hospital on the site of St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin will be completed in 2019, according to the Department of Health.

Building on the relocated site for the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street will commence in 2016 and the new unit will be completed by 2019, according to the Department.

The design team for the hosital projecthas now been delected by the Department.

The announcement of a completion date for the new maternity hospital was made as reports emerged that a number of maternity units in the west and northwest of the country may be closed as part of a HSE rationalisation process.