Professor Shane Higgins:

From the word go, as far as we were concerned, and in the development and the design, we have proposed this as a re-location. The Deputy will remember that it was first mentioned by the then Minister for Health, James Reilly. It was followed up on by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and then by the following Minister, Simon Harris. It was discussed as a voluntary hospital that would be relocating.

Another point is the transfer of the National Maternity Hospital to the State will take place when we move out there. That is a significant contribution to the overall cost of this hospital. That needs to be stated also.