Tallaght Hospital says it is the only location that meets all of the requirements set by Government-appointed experts for the new national children's hospital.
Launching its bid today for the 380-bed facility which will cost over €500m, the hospital said the issue now is whether the Government follows its own advice on what is best for Ireland's children, or whether other considerations push this aside.
The hospital said it had ample space for the new facility, it already cared for children at the National Children's Hospital and that it was very accessible from all parts of the country and the inner city of Dublin.
Seven Dublin hospitals are understood to have expressed an interest in the project, or have still to make a detailed submission. They are St James's, St Vincent's, the Mater, Connolly, Beaumont, Tallaght and the group behind the private Beacon Hospital in south Dublin.
The Health Service Executive said that the evaluation process for the best location was ongoing. It added that a recommendation from an expert group is expected to go before the board of the executive early next month.
