John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

She cannot be here this evening, and I am standing in for her by way of making a response.

Hospital care for children is provided in Dublin at three hospitals, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Children's University Hospital; and the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght. Each hospital funded by the HSE is required to deliver services within the financial allocation provided. The priority of the HSE and hospital management is to ensure that services for children at the hospital are maintained at an optimum level. The HSE is fully aware of the financial challenges being faced by the hospital. It is involved in ongoing discussions with hospital management regarding its 2009 financial allocation and service plan. The priority is to ensure that services are maintained at an optimum level.

In common with all hospitals, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin is faced with the challenge of delivering a high quality service to its patients, while remaining within budget. The hospital is committed to providing the full level of services that it promised in its service plan for 2009. The top priority will be to protect patient care.

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