Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I congratulate Deputy Howlin on his election to the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I have no doubt he will be an outstanding Leas-Cheann Comhairle and that he may be tempted from time to time to intervene inappropriately, given that he is a man with strong opinions on many subjects, including health.

There have been a number of important developments in regard to the new national paediatric hospital during recent months. On 8 March last, I announced the appointment of Mr. Philip Lynch as chairman designate of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. I recently signed an order establishing the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board on a statutory basis. The development board held its inaugural meeting last Monday.

The principal functions of the board will be to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new national paediatric hospital in accordance with a brief to be approved by the Health Service Executive. The brief will set out the preferred model of care, the core services to be delivered at the new hospital and the additional range of services to be provided in an urgent ambulatory care setting, taking account of international best practice.

The HSE is being advised in this context by Rawlinson Kelly & Whittlestone Limited, RKW, an established UK-based health care planning company. In finalising its work RKW, together with a panel of international advisers, has arranged a series of meetings later this week with key stakeholders, including the three paediatric hospitals.

The development board has begun the process of putting in place the necessary project support structure to progress the development. I am aware that the position in regard to the provision of paediatric services in Tallaght Hospital has been a matter of concern for the hospital and the local community. I was, therefore, pleased to confirm recently that a major ambulatory care centre in Tallaght will be advanced as part of the initial phase of the new paediatric hospital development. This ambulatory care centre will offer a comprehensive and wide range of services to children, including an urgent care service, a major expansion in outpatient services and a significantly increased day surgery service. This followed an analysis of the current location of major paediatric populations in the catchment area for the new hospital and the need to minimise the travel time for children requiring access to such services.

The vast majority of current attendees at the existing children's accident and emergency department in Tallaght Hospital do not require admission and will continue to access their care at the ambulatory care centre.

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