Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the decision itself. Many hospitals applied to have their sites selected. People are concerned about how the decision was made and I have trawled the media and listened to the Minister in this regard. In the interest of transparency, how did we come to the decision? Many hospitals believed they fulfilled many of the criteria, including the one in my area.

Deputy Maloney asked about the ambulatory and urgent care centre. There was also talk of a maternity element in Tallaght but I presume that will now be knocked on the head. Questions have already been asked about the future of Crumlin children's hospital. What will happen to Temple Street children's hospital, which was linked to the development of the Mater site?

The Minister said he had no concerns in regard to possible planning difficulties but there are difficulties in respect of this site. There are buildings on it which will cause major problems in regard to planning. Access, which people raised in regard to the Mater site, will be a problem. Any fool who travels through that area in the morning and tries to get in and out of that hospital will know there are major difficulties there. I detect that there will be problems. I know there Minister is confident there will not be the same problems as with the Mater site but there is concern locally in regard to many of these matters and how they will impact on people.

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