Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a compelling need for a new maternity hospital which must be built as soon as possible. We need a modern hospital for mothers and children-to-be, built to the best standards in the world because the people of Ireland are entitled to it. I heard Deputy Michael Harty call for the maternity hospital to be co-located with St. Vincent's University Hospital, but I would have thought the maternity and children hospitals should have been co-located together, although somewhere more accessible than where the children's hospital is to be built at St. James's Hospital. Many would have thought that the edge of the M50 or the site of Connolly Hospital would have been more suitable. I am also of that view because there are deficiencies at St. James's Hospital in terms of access and parking facilities, among other things.

This issue has gone on for long enough and the hospital needs to proceed to construction stage as soon as possible. We look forward to the new National Maternity Hospital being built as soon as possible. The timeline is three or four years, but that seems long when one considers the state of the hospital on Holles Street which is clearly not fit for purpose, has outgrown its suitability and needs to be replaced.

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