Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Has the Government altered or varied in any way the Cabinet decision of last June concerning the siting of the national children's hospital? Did the Taoiseach read today's edition of the Irish Examiner, which has secured information under the Freedom of Information Act to the effect that the Government was counselled during the month immediately prior to the Cabinet decision that the most feasible solution was a hospital under single governance with a campus on the north and south sides of Dublin? I refer to the advice of Professor Denis Gill, a kidney specialist, who wrote to the Taoiseach stating that such a solution would make historical, geographical, religious and, perhaps, political sense. He also stated that it is difficult to envisage there not being a paediatric service on both sides of the River Liffey. Having regard to the controversy caused by the decision made on the site of the new hospital, the acute distress caused to many parents by the prospect of having to travel in today's congested traffic conditions to a single inner city site, and the decision of the board of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children at Crumlin, will the Taoiseach state clearly whether the Cabinet decision of last June stands or has been varied?

Will the Taoiseach comment on the fact that when one reads more deeply into this matter, one finds that McKinsey & Company consultants were brought in and recommended a single, 300-bed hospital as the ideal solution for a population of 4.2 million? The previous Government plans for the relocation of Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals show it was planned to construct 650 beds. Consultants were then brought in, however, and we were told that 300 beds would be the ideal solution.

It seems the Government can no longer make any decision without relying on an extremely expensive consultants' report, or hiding behind it as the case may be. In many instances these consultants — I do not necessarily refer to McKinsey Consultants — are told by some senior person what answer is sought. When they produce that answer, they get bucket loads of money in return. One hears some of these consultants on the radio telling us that although their names decorated the notepaper on which the reports are written——

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