Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and to substitute the following:

"— endorses the Government's view, based on international evidence, that the best way to provide high-quality tertiary paediatric care in a country of Ireland's size is to establish a single national paediatric hospital, functioning alongside a major university teaching hospital, so that the medical and nursing expertise needed for complex care is brought together;

— supports the work being done by the three existing children's hospitals to move towards closer integration and co-operation in preparation for the establishment of the national paediatric hospital;

— welcomes the funding of over €250 million allocated this year by the Government for the three existing children's hospitals at Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght;

— supports the work of the Minister for Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the three children's hospitals to achieve savings by working closely together in a way that will free up further resources for services;

— notes that in the current financial situation, all hospitals throughout the country have been working intensively to achieve necessary savings while still delivering on the level of activity promised in their service plan for 2009;

— welcomes the fact that the HSE has been working very closely with Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin to achieve a break-even position, and that the hospital has received considerable financial support from the HSE for this purpose;

— welcomes the fact that the hospital has indicated it will not now be necessary to proceed with the ward and theatre closures in July and August that it had earlier anticipated;

— supports the plan being developed by the HSE for treating children with scoliosis who require surgery;

— welcomes the contribution made by the National Treatment Purchase Fund to meeting the cost of selected cases and notes that the fund will continue to arrange treatment for cases where this is clinically appropriate;

— notes that, contrary to recent claims, the NTPF negotiates very competitive prices for scoliosis surgery and that no premium is paid for work done through the fund; and

— supports the Minister and Government in their continuing commitment to ensuring that children receive the best possible quality services throughout the health system in a manner that meets their needs efficiently and effectively."

I wish to share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, with the permission of the House.

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