Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have heard similar concerns. I met Children's Health Ireland, CHI, on this recently. To make the obvious point, outpatient clinics will be provided in the satellite centres that are being provided in the children's hospitals today. Obviously Dr. X, who provides a service in one of the hospitals, will go out to the new outpatient centre to provide his clinics. That movement will take place but that is not what the Deputy is talking about. Thus far ten additional consultants have been hired for the centre at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. The Secretary General confirmed to Deputy O'Reilly earlier today that nine of them are new consultants. One of them has come from Tallaght Hospital. That post is now being backfilled. My understanding is that all the nurses who need to be in position are in position. In response to an oral question last week I said that in one or two areas, such as radiology, the clinics are working on a contingency plan or locum cover in case they cannot get a permanent post. The HSE remains convinced that this facility will open at the end of July, which I presume means 31 July. This year it will provide just over 6,000 more outpatient appointments than are provided by the current system. Those ten additional consultants have been hired. I am happy to ask CHI to send the committee a note to that effect-----