Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here for the start of the presentation. Unfortunately I had business in the Seanad I had to attend to. I was moving a Private Member's Bill. I have looked all the documentation on this. With regard to the presentation made earlier this morning, I raised in particular the issue that An Bord Pleanála looked at the Mater hospital site and decided it was not the appropriate place for the children's hospital. I asked whether all the issues regarding traffic management and parking were dealt with by An Bord Pleanála when the application went in for the hospital on the St James's Hospital site but I did not get an answer to this. There is very much a myth out there about transport access to St. James's Hospital. The witnesses have outlined the Luas line, Heuston train station and bus services. However, genuine concerns were raised by other witnesses who appeared before the committee this morning. Are the witnesses before us satisfied we can meet these concerns and that we will not be here in ten years' time stating the location was a huge mistake with regard to access?

There is much focus at present on the size of the site and that it is not adequate. The witnesses referred to the fact the site is 50 acres. This is not in the public domain. Many people have the view it is a two or three acre site. A message needs to be sent out on this because it is a problem. I have visited the site and I know where it is. There are a number of issues in the public domain. We receive many e-mails from people who have a firm belief it is the wrong site. What needs to be done to send out a positive message about the project?

Another issue is the timescale. As I understand it, the site is being cleared at present and much work has been done. When is building likely to occur? The witnesses may have already gone over this, and I apologise if I am asking a question which has already been covered, but what is the timing from the start of building to actual completion to actual fit out to actual commissioning? Will the witnesses give us some guidelines on the timing?

Are we anywhere closer to making a planning submission for the maternity unit? If it goes through, has any indication been given by the Department on the likelihood of funding being provided? What timescale does the Department have for funding a new maternity unit?

I accept that what has happened in the maternity units in Dublin is wrong in that they have grown at a phenomenal rate. All of the hospitals have moved from a figure of approximately 6,000 to 9,000 deliveries in a short timeframe and been able to deal with the challenge, but that will not continue forever. Have the delegates been given any indication about the availability of funding in the short and the long term and the timescale about which we are talking for maternity units?