Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies O'Connor and Crowe for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am making this reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Minister is aware of the specific concerns which have been expressed regarding the future development of services at Tallaght Hospital, which operates within the catchment area of Dublin South-West. These concerns have largely centred on the position with regard to the provision of paediatric hospital services at Tallaght.

Following the Government decision on the location of the new national paediatric hospital, the Taoiseach, the Minister and the chief executive officer of the HSE met with representatives of Tallaght Hospital, including Archbishop Eames, to discuss the implications of the decision for the National Children's Hospital at Tallaght. A number of matters relating to the provision of adult services at Tallaght were also discussed. Development proposals submitted by the delegation in this regard have been forwarded to the HSE for consideration.

In a letter to the Archbishop following the meeting, the Taoiseach gave an assurance that the Government wishes to see Tallaght Hospital thrive on a sustainable basis as a particular focal point for the involvement of the minority tradition in the health care system and as a key health provider to an expanding local population. These objectives will be pursued in tandem with other compelling objectives, including the achievement of an effective and efficient hospital care system, which will deliver the highest possible standards of care within a framework designed to respond to the needs of patients at national, regional and local level.

A joint HSE and Department of Health and Children transition group has been established to advance the development of the national tertiary paediatric hospital. Among the key items to be addressed are the definition of a high level framework brief for the new hospital and the determination of the range of services and location of the associated urgent care centres.

We are trying to do the best for all our children, both in Tallaght and Dublin as a whole. The current arrangements for the provision of hospital services for children in the Dublin and national area are not satisfactory. On a sustainable basis, there is only room for one national tertiary hospital centre in this country. Deputies have obligations to patient safety, and they have an obligation to advise the public about dangers to patient safety when such exist.

What is being attempted by the HSE, through a transparent process, is the establishment of a location for the national tertiary hospital for paediatric services. All the hospitals in the Dublin area, including Tallaght Hospital, participated in that process. Their participation in that process indicated a willingness to be bound by a decision. A decision was arrived at, which had to happen. There was not room for two or three paediatric tertiary hospitals in Dublin, as that is the unsatisfactory arrangement we have currently. That is the issue that required to be addressed.

However, the group will have consultations with relevant stakeholders, which will include representatives of the National Children's Hospital at Tallaght. I would like to salute the work done at that hospital, and the staff who work there.

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