Thousands of new jobs will be created at the new National Children's Hospital.

3,700 people will be employed at the hospital when it opens, another 2,300 positions during construction.

Planning permission for the €650m hospital project was lodged in August. 

An Bord Pleanála will hold its first hearing on the project, planned for the St James's Hospital site in Dublin 8 later this week.

A final decision on the design of the project is expected by mid-February.

Aerial view of the planned National Children's Hospital. Image: via newchildrenshospital.ie

Project director for itÂ’s development board, John Pollock, says 10% of those who work on the construction will be people who are long term unemployed or on apprenticeships.

"In the construction phase there is about 2,000 jobs directly here on site, there is a further 300 jobs with people supplying into the contractors on site... 3,000 jobs when the hospital opens" he said.

Some of the hospital staff will come across from other institutions.

Independent chair of the Community Oversight Group, Gordon Jayes, says they want the hospital to benefit local people and their community.