Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

After the final paragraph, to insert the following new paragraphs:

"calls on the Government to ensure:- that, pending the opening of the national children's hospital on the St James's campus, the existing children's hospitals be properly funded for much needed facilities and investment;

- that workers in the present hospitals will be guaranteed jobs in the new hospital, and that they will not have to reapply for their positions; and

- that a public health facility should be maintained on the Crumlin children's hospital site."

I welcome the Government's decision to locate the national children's hospital at the St. James's campus, which is relatively near the Coombe. There was no perfect site for the hospital but it is a welcome relief for the many parents of children who have been waiting for a decision to be made after the fiasco of the past seven years. With other local politicians I was part of a campaign to save Our Lady's Children's Hospital. Many people felt the Mater site was not practical for parents to access with regard to traffic in the city centre, taking in location, size and density. It did not seem practical for children who are very sick and need help and support.

It is a welcome decision for parents nationally and the workers involved. Many people who rented accommodation in the area will not have to travel across the city to look for somewhere else, and people who have roots in the community will not have far to go, including those from Tallaght, Temple Street hospital or the Crumlin and Drimnagh area. Community organisations would also welcome the decision.

The decision emanated from the report of the Dolphin review group, which had among its number four paediatric professionals; in itself that was good because those people would indicate if a site was not agreeable for a national children's hospital. I also note the three boards at Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street hospitals welcomed the decision. We should move speedily to planning applications, although it has already been indicated that the new national children's hospital will not be open for at least six years. There is a concern because doctors have described facilities in Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals as obsolete and not fit for purpose. Children require proper facilities now in the three hospitals that are providing care. For example, the cancer ward in Crumlin has no private rooms for terminally ill children, and parents of critically ill children are sleeping in corridors and wards. Similar problems are to be found in Temple Street, which has cramped and outdated facilities as well. There was a recent report, for example, that children with wheelchairs cannot access wards. Facilities must be maintained and resourced, and the first part of the amendment calls on the Government to ensure that existing children's hospitals would be properly funded in order to procure much-needed facilities and investment.

Workers, particularly those in the cleaning area, are concerned because they may have to reapply for their jobs in any new children's hospital. These people's jobs should be guaranteed by the hospital and over time these people should not feel any discrimination.

A public health facility should be maintained on the Crumlin site. Deputy Ó Caoláin asked what use would be made of the site and the campaign with which I was involved wanted to see a public health facility in and around the hospital. I hope the Government will take on board the aspects of the amendment I have put down. It is important to workers in the area and the community. Moreover, the three current children's hospitals must be properly funded and facilitated.

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