Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses are now telling us that it will be at least ten years since the Sláintecare proposals for elective hospitals before the first hospital will be built and operating. Is that not the case? That will be in Galway, and it will be at least ten years. That is just shocking. The proposal was based on the experience in Scotland where a decision was taken by NHS Scotland to purchase a private hospital and bring it into use for elective purposes. Then they immediately decided to build a second elective hospital. What is going on?

You cannot help thinking that these surgical hubs are actually a substitution and that is the thinking somewhere. How could it possibly take so long? I am sick and tired of inquiring about the proposed elective hospital for Dublin. Then we are told that there are going to be two. We still have not heard any information about the first site for a Dublin hospital, even though there was a very suitable site located beside a national hospital in the Dublin area close to the M50. We were told that was being given serious consideration. What on earth has gone on with regard to the site for the Dublin hospital? Can somebody answer that question? Why is it taking so long? It is at least a year since we were told that decisions would be taken shortly. I have been tracking this and I am very interested in it. I have been tracking it with regard to Dublin, and each time I am told that decisions will be taken shortly. The Department had that again in its text this morning. What is going on?