Mr. Ciar?n Ruane:

I was the author of the short report on St. Brigid's Hospital. While I will not say I am an expert, I have over 20 years' experience in the Department. Before that I spent many years working for builders so I have a fair bit of knowledge. I am also very familiar with our requirements for healthcare buildings. Many of our healthcare buildings are old. This is a challenge we have throughout the region.

The issue with the flooding was that when the primary care centre was being built, a flood survey was done and it was insisted that the building be raised by 1 m. Our hospital building will have to be raised also, as part of the survey, although perhaps not by a full metre. It could only be 30 cm or so but the problem lies in trying to tie a new building into an existing building which has quite a small footprint. We have difficulties in our hospitals and healthcare buildings with ramps and steps and trying to move trolleys and take deliveries. It can be very difficult.