A number of members of the board appointed by Minister for Health Mary Harney last May to develop the controversial new national children's hospital are understood to be considering their position in a row with the Department of Health over funding for its operation.
It is understood that the issue involves the provision of State funding for the work of the board and a secretariat which has been established to assist it.
The board, which is chaired by businessman Philip Lynch, has responsibility for designing, building and equipping the new national paediatric hospital which is to be established on the site of the Mater hospital in Dublin.
Informed sources said that there was growing frustration among some members of the board regarding the funding issue and that a number had indicated that they would consider their position if it was not resolved.
It is understood that shortly after queries were raised on this issue by The Irish Times on Friday evening, the Department of Health contacted members of the board to invite them to a meeting with Ms Harney to discuss the future funding issues.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said yesterday that "technical issues" had arisen in relation to funding for the board and an associated office under the terms of the Health Act.
The spokesman said the department was confident the issues could be resolved.
It is understood that the Department of Health has sought legal advice on the issues involved.
The spokesman said there was a distinction between revenue funding for the board and capital funding for the new hospital which is considered a priority project by the Minister.
The spokesman said the Government was committed to proceeding with the new national paediatric hospital and that funding was set out in the national development plan.
The development of the new hospital has been a subject of controversy for some time now.
The decision to establish the new hospital on the grounds of the Mater was criticised by the country's largest children's hospital, Our Lady's in Crumlin, which is scheduled to move to the new facility.
Concerns were also raised by the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght and by the Church of Ireland.
However, Ms Harney refused to sanction a further review of the location. External consultants are expected to submit shortly a report on the hospital's design.
