Major investment is needed to make Dublin's Crumlin Children's Hospital the centre for heart operations in Ireland, according to an expert report.
According to the Irish Independent, the facility has been earmarked to carry out all heart surgery on children.
However a report by an expert group says there will have to be at least 10 fully staffed intensive care beds to cope with demand.
It also says that the development cannot wait until the new National Children's Hospital is built.