Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I reply on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The Mater and children's hospital development project was planned some years ago with a view to significantly improving the facilities for patients and staff at both hospitals. It was envisaged at that time that paediatric secondary and tertiary services could appropriately be provided at more than one location. However, it is clear from the recent McKinsey report that current best practice indicates that best outcomes for children should be provided by one national tertiary paediatric centre.

The McKinsey report was produced on foot of a request by the Tánaiste that the Health Service Executive undertake a review of tertiary paediatric services to ensure they are provided in the most efficient and effective manner. This request was made in the context of the decision to be taken on the possible relocation of the facilities at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Following the Tánaiste's request, the HSE engaged a team of management consultants, McKinsey and Company, to provide a report on the strategy organisation of tertiary paediatric services.

The HSE published the McKinsey report on 3 February 2006. The report recommends that best outcomes for children should be provided by one national tertiary paediatric centre, which would also provide all secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area. The report recommended that these secondary services would be supported by strategically located accident and emergency facilities. The report also recommended that ideally the new facility should be located on the site of, or adjacent to, a major adult teaching hospital in order to achieve the maximum service benefit for children.

Arising from the report's recommendations, a joint HSE and Department of Health and Children task group was established to progress matters and to advise on the optimal location for the new facility. The group has received proposals from all of the major Dublin teaching hospitals to accommodate the new children's hospital. It has also received proposals from a number of private sector interest groups and the report is expected in early April.

When a decision has been taken on the new tertiary paediatric facility, the HSE will examine the organisational arrangements necessary to progress the development, including arrangements for the provision of paediatric accident and emergency services. The work and recommendations of the task group clearly have implications for all three Dublin children's hospitals, including the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. The Tánaiste's primary concern is to ensure the solution arrived at is in the best interests of children.

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