The new National Children's Hospital is unlikely to be ready until 2019 at the earliest. According to The Irish Times no-one has been appointed as chair of the hospital board and there is no sign of building work at the St. James's Hospital site.

The 2019 date would be 3 years later than promised in the programme for government and at least a year later than predicted by the Minister for Health James Reilly.

The newspaper says that in the 6 months since the announcement "nothing visible has happened to advance the project apart from Dr Reilly's decision to replace the out-going board with a group of senior officials from his department".

But it is believed that the tender document for the project is nearly complete and that a number of key appointments will be advertised soon.

Much of 2015 is expected to be taken up by the search for a builder and agreement on the construction price. This is expected to be up to €600 million, with some €450 million coming from the State. Construction of the hospital is expected to take up to 5 years.

The Irish Times says further delays could arise from the planning process as a report last year categorised the planning risk on the St. James's site as 'moderate'.

Health Correspondent with The Irish Times Paul Cullen He says he expects to hear about tender documents for the project and a number of key appointments shortly. But adds that says there is no sign of any progress being made on the plans.

He spoke to Breakfast here on Newstalk.