Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Health, I believe it is very fair. I hope that if the Deputy were in my position, he would adopt this approach also, such that we will not press "Go" on the building of the new national maternity hospital at the St. Vincent's campus until all the issues, including that of the religious orders leaving and all those associated with governance, are resolved and the hospital is in public ownership. I believe all of this can be achieved. There has been a lot of misinformation and scaremongering in this regard but I believe all these objectives can be achieved. My position is very clear in that regard.

That is not delaying the project, however, because the enabling works are ongoing on the pharmacy and car park, both of which will benefit our acute adult hospital anyway. Those works are due to be completed in 2020, at which stage we will go to tender for the national maternity hospital proper. We will press "Go" on that tender only after a Government decision and once the thee clear commitments I have set out have been met. It is possible that the hospital could go to construction late in 2020, subject to the conditions being met.

While the Deputy is correct that it was always intended to proceed with the Coombe project alongside the national children's hospital project, it was never from a construction point of view. The children's hospital must be built first, and then the Coombe. The Deputy is correct that we should be preparing to go ahead with the construction of the Coombe. That is why the project brief will be produced.

With regard to the Rotunda, I agree there is a need to listen to Professor Malone on the interim works that should be carried out. I have asked Professor Malone and the HSE to come up with an agreed project concerning what could be done in the interim. I believe this work is almost finalised and I look forward to those concerned coming to see me in the coming weeks in this regard.

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