The government has given the go-ahead for two new 'satellite centres' for the National Children's Hospital.

The two urgent care centres in Blanchardstown and Tallaght will ease the workload of the main hospital to be built in Kilmainham.

The centres will treat up to 50,000 children a year.

Both centres are to be established in advance of the main hospital opening, with an estimated completion date of mid-2016.

However, this is subject to detailed site studies and planning consent. €50 million is to be spent on building the two centres.

The centres will deal with less urgent cases, but will be capable of handling some emergencies.

Each centre will also provide secondary acute out-patient services, including rapid access general paediatric clinics.

The Department of Health says the centres are being developed "to enhance access to emergency/urgent care facilities for children in the Greater Dublin Area".

Health Minister James Reilly says the two smaller centres will form a vital part of the main Children's Hospital.