A recommendation from the task force charged with recommending the location of the new national children's hospital in Dublin is not expected now for another six weeks
In a statement, the Health Service Executive said that new issues had arisen that were not included in the group's original terms of reference, in particular, the importance for co-location or a relationship between the children's hospital and a maternity unit.
The executive says it wants to extend the working time for the group to allow input from the three Dublin maternity hospitals in relation to their willingness to co-locate with the new hospital.
Several proposals from the private sector have also meant the group needs more time.
The executive has also announced that John O' Brien is stepping down from the task force which he chaired.
This is because of his former association with St James's Hospital where he was CEO, given the continued candidacy of the hospital as a potential site for the new children's hospital.
