James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To address Deputy Kelleher's question, of course funding will remain available for the development of new treatments within pediatrics. However, the further development of the hospitals at those sites would not make any economic sense when we are building a new hospital. None the less, Crumlin has received funds that it is using to develop new surgery facilities etc. on its site. Clearly, to continue developing new facilities as opposed to new treatments at that site would not make as much financial sense as focusing on and expediting the provision of the new hospital in so far as we can.

I take on board Deputy Kelleher's suggestion vis-à-vis the Minister for Finance and the tax treatment of philanthropic donations to the new hospital. I will raise it with the Minister.

Some €200 million from the national lottery and €360 million of capital funding will be used to complete the hospital's development. We are satisfied that we have the money required to complete construction. We are looking to philanthropy for investment in research, research facilities and education.

We think that would be a hugely important aspect of what this new hospital affords us the opportunity to explore, so that we can develop new treatments not just for the children of this country, but for children around the globe.

In response to Deputy Ó Caoláin's first question, the new hospital will have more beds than the current complement but I do not think that is what is important. The Deputy's second question is the important one which continually consumes me. For far too long, there has been too much focus on inputs - how many doctors and nurses there are, how much money there is and how many beds there are - and not enough focus on outcomes for patients and, in this case, outcomes for children. How many children are treated and how quickly are they treated? That is the key here and I am absolutely convinced that this new hospital will afford us the opportunity to treat many more children much more quickly and to reduce waiting times considerably.

See this speech in context