John Gilroy (Labour)
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I welcome back Professor Higgins, Mr. O'Flynn and Mr. O'Dwyer. Deputy Mitchell O'Connor was concerned about the process being entangled in bureaucracy, as happened with the national children's hospital. However, Mr. O'Flynn has gone about his work in a dynamic and collaborative way and I believe he has brought most people on board with him. I congratulate him in this regard because he has done a fine piece of work. I note that within the ten to 15-year timeframe the board is considering with regard to the development of this hospital, many other infrastructural works will take place on the north side of Cork city. For example, the north ring road probably will come on board, something probably will happen at Monard and perhaps, on foot of the housing availability study, down at Ballyvolane, all of which are within a couple of kilometres of each another. In Mr. O'Flynn's submission, he stated the board is seeking support for a decision in principle to locate and purchase a site. Does the word "purchase" preclude the possibility of the campus at St. Stephen's Hospital, which I consider to be perfectly located and already in the ownership of the Health Service Executive, being the site or a site? There also is land at Stoneview, Blarney, on which there originally were plans for a hospital back in 2004. Have these sites been considered?