Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I do not accept the facilities will be crammed onto the site. I could list many hospitals elsewhere in the world where the space is substantially less than what is being provided here. I am neither a construction expert nor a clinician. It is clear to me, however, that once the site was identified, some people were not as pleased as they might have been if another location was chosen. The merging of hospitals has not been done often in the past and it is not always a happy experience. It can take a long time for all types of reasons. Difficulties arose when St. Luke's Hospital was being amalgamated with St. James's Hospital, for instance, but the merged facilities are widely accepted as offering the best care for cancer patients. Some of these decisions are not easy for staff or patients and their families. If they are made on the basis of sound clinical advice, however, the vast majority of people will accept them.

I am often criticised for arranging too many reviews but now there are calls for another. I do not accept the need for such a review. We must move on. I will shortly announce the appointment of the team to oversee the development of the new children's hospital. The Mater Hospital was selected from among three contenders, the others being Beaumont Hospital and St. James's Hospital, and was recommended as the preferred site for several reasons. It was understandable there would be a certain degree of disappointment that other hospitals were not chosen.

To suggest, however, that this decision was motivated by anything other than the best interests of children is incorrect and unfair. No allegations are being made against anyone. I have spoken to everyone who wished to raise the matter with me. I made clear to the board of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin that, where possible, the issues raised in their report will be addressed but that the decision on location is final unless something arises of which neither I nor the advisory group is aware. If we are to allow further delays because of uncertainty over the site, we will simply delay the provision of this state-of-the-art facility. It was the unit in Trinity College which provided advice on transport, location and access.

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