Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I speak as a parent who has visited Crumlin hospital with children and family members and Temple Street hospital with family members. We have got to get this hospital built. There were several sites in Dublin city. The Mater site was ruled out by An Bord Pleanála. Subsequent to that, when St. Vincent's University Hospital did not apply or request to be considered as a site, there were two sites left, namely, the St. James's and Connolly sites. An independent objective decision was made by people who have knowledge and experience in this space.

They decided on the site at St. James's Hospital. It is now time to get this hospital built. For too long families have had to bring children to facilities that are substandard. I have friends who have had to sleep underneath the beds their children were in. Those days have to come to an end. I look forward to when the hospital is built. It will be a world centre of international expertise, knowledge and ability.

One point that has been completely ignored in all of this is the establishment of the paediatric outreach centres. The days of every child coming to one centre have to end. The facilities need not all be on one campus or site. We have the best clinicians in the world. Those clinicians can run outreach clinics throughout the country, including in Cork or Galway. There will be 13 centres in all. That will be of real benefit. It means not all children have to come to Dublin city. Clinicians can go to the centres throughout the country and provide knowledge and expertise.

This has been going on for 30 years. It is time to bring it to an end. It is a little late for the motion at this stage because work has started. An Bord Pleanála made the decision on the site at the Mater hospital some years ago. It was excluded. Now, we have time to start building. If there are infrastructural problems with regard to car parking and access, they can be overcome.

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