Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I recently visited Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. I met the committee of management and viewed some of the facilities there, which are clearly in need of investment. The infrastructure does not meet current standards for a paediatric hospital facility and the available facilities do not satisfactorily accommodate the range and extent of current clinical and associated activity.

Some time ago, a project team, including representatives from the hospital, the former Eastern Regional Health Authority and my Department, was established to plan for the overall future development of the hospital. Under the direction of the project team, an outline development control plan was prepared by a specially-appointed design team. The ODCP demonstrated the feasibility of accommodating new facilities on the existing Crumlin site. It also, however, clearly set out the implications of such an approach in terms of cost, time and disruption to services.

This has given rise to concern among the management and staff. This reflects my own view on the matter and, accordingly, I have decided that it is now appropriate to examine the feasibility of identifying an alternative site for the provision of a new hospital. The development of new facilities on a greenfield site could have significant advantages, including speedier delivery of the building, with less impact on existing services.

My Department is working as a priority with the Health Service Executive in drawing up terms of reference to guide the process of identifying suitable sites. On completion of a site option appraisal exercise, which will be subject to public tendering procedures and which, it is anticipated, will take four months, a final decision can be made as to whether the redevelopment will commence on the Crumlin site or elsewhere. The work of the project team will help to inform decisions on the level and configuration of services to be provided at the hospital, irrespective of its final location.

I also accept that it is necessary to continue to invest in the upgrading of facilities on the Crumlin site during the development programme, even in the event of the hospital being relocated off-site. In this regard, interim upgrading works in the haematology-oncology department, the radiology department and the cardiology department are currently being progressed on the Crumlin site.

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