James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputies opposite for their intentions in raising this. There is no doubt that this is a key facility for the well-being of our children and that it is absolutely necessary. I thank Deputy Eric Byrne for his comments and would like to reassure him that there is absolutely no panic, nor is there a need for panic, but there is a need for expediency and a sense of urgency. That certainly is the case.

I am committed to providing the best possible health service for our children and their families. I want this to be delivered through a new national children's hospital, where tertiary and acute services can be provided from one site. Immediately following the decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the national children's hospital, I announced my intention to establish a group to review the implications of the decision.

The Government today agreed the terms of reference for the review group. These are to inform itself about the planning considerations and processes affecting this project; to consider the different options which now exist for progressing the construction of a national children's hospital having regard to Government policy on the delivery of health services, including accessibility and paediatric services in particular and best clinical practice considerations, the cost and value for money considerations of the different options, the likely timelines associated with the different options, and the implementation risks associated with the different options; to advise me, in the light of these considerations, on the appropriate next steps to take with a view to ensuring a national paediatric hospital can be constructed with minimal delay; and to report to me within 56 days of the first meeting of the group.

Currently the three Dublin children's hospitals work together as a unified network under the clinical leadership of Dr. Colm Costigan to ensure optimisation of resources and facilities. The hospitals are fully aware of the challenges facing their young patients and of the need to support families. Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin has been experiencing a surge in attendances to its emergency department and a corresponding increase in admissions through that department. The clinical director, Dr. Colm Costigan, is a joint appointment across all three hospitals. When individual hospitals are under pressure, he clinically reviews patients and, where necessary, redeploys patients across the hospitals to minimise impacts on elective surgery.

The regional director of operations in the HSE has met the clinical director and Ronan O'Sullivan, professor of paediatric emergency medicine. They have organised hospital site visits and are formulating an agreed approach to deal with the seasonal peak in paediatric emergency medicine. The HSE has taken steps to provide as high a level of protection as possible for the funding of the children's hospitals. The budget adjustment to both Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street was significantly less than the average in the HSE Dublin mid-Leinster service plan for 2012. The HSE management are in discussions with the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street towards agreeing a cost containment plan and will meet representatives of that hospital next week to discuss the plan further.

The HSE service plan for 2012 has set a target for children's hospitals requiring that no child should be waiting for treatment for more than 20 weeks by the end 2012. The Children's University Hospital, Temple Street is actively engaged with the HSE, the special delivery unit and the National Treatment Purchase Fund to ensure that this target is met. Discussions with the hospital have been positive and are ongoing.

I have emphasised the need to ensure that the impact of any changes to patients is minimised, and that all changes are fully communicated. All measures will be reviewed regularly by the hospital management team to ensure the least impact on patients and service users. Patient safety remains our first priority.

I reaffirm the Government's ongoing commitment to the construction of a new children's hospital. I am committed to the principle of co-location with an adult hospital, but I know that others may have a different view. I will await the completion of the work of the review group. One thing is clear: I am determined to deliver a national children's hospital for the children of this country.

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