A planning application for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH), which is to be built on the grounds of St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

This project, which will see the current NMH on Holles Street move to St Vincent's, marks the single biggest investment ever made in maternity services in Ireland. When complete, the new hospital will cater for up to 10,000 births annually and will include state-of-the-art facilities, including five operating theaters, 50 neonatal intensive care and special care single cot rooms and 24 delivery rooms.

The lodging of the planning application had been previously delayed due to rows over how the new hospital would be run. However, following mediation talks, agreement was reached late last year and the application has now been made.

"The lodgement of the planning application is a milestone in the development of the future infrastructure we want for our maternity services so this is a landmark day," commented the Minister for Health, Simon Harris.

He thanked both the National Maternity Hospital and St Vincent's University Hospital for their ‘commitment and tireless efforts' in finalising the planning application.