Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have been there and seen that. What consultation did the Department have? Were the ambulance drivers ever consulted? In respect of problems with the St. James's campus, helicopter restrictions mean that the helipad, which is on a fourth floor roof at one end of the children's hospital, can receive only the lighter Air Corps AW helicopters and then only on flight paths not restricted by the adjacent upper hospital floors. The heavier coastguard and marine rescue Sikorsky helicopter is not licensed for roof landings and must land at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. How are they going to get there then? Ambulance drivers and paramedics have contacted me to say they have listened to nurses and parents screaming at them about how much longer it will take to get to the hospital because they are stuck in traffic. The Minister of State knows it better than I do because she lives in the area. I would not dare to suggest something about access. The Minister of State knows the problems with traffic.

The parking limitations are appalling in respect of the proposed children's hospital. There is no space left on site for almost 600 surface spaces leaving them with a net gain of only 420 spaces. This gives one a final cost of over €138,000 for each of the 420 car parking spaces. We have been told they go down but one would think they were going down into soft sawdust. It is accepted that the children's hospital will have to cope with 10,000 arrivals and departures every day. An additional 3,500 staff will work at the children’s hospital. If the essential maternity hospital is ever built, St. James's Hospital has indicated that there will be no additional parking. I have met nurses who work there. I am not demeaning the area but they fear for their physical safety going to and leaving the hospital. The biggest issue is the distress caused to patients. A community group in Munster is trying to set up a community air ambulance. It has raised €3 million to buy and run it voluntarily. We have volunteers who are willing to work along with the Jack and Jill Foundation and other groups yet the Government is making it more difficult. A helicopter cannot even land there. This is reckless and dangerous and will cause trauma, stress and, in what are not my words but consultants' words, unnecessary deaths.

See this speech in context