Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. Perhaps we can talk later about the meeting the Minister had. Perhaps the Minister of State can tell me the exact details of it.

This has been a long time coming. It is going to be a major project in my constituency. I had selfishly hoped that the announcement of this hospital would trigger the start of development of the north ring road, for which we have been waiting 25 years, but alas that did not happen. We all know the planning issues for roads and all the different assessments that need to happen.

I welcome the fact that the project is moving along and people have been appointed to undertake their design brief and so on. In the future, via questions on promised legislation or by way of a Topical Issue, I will be persistently raising this issue. People get dismayed when they see delays to certain projects. While I realise these are large-scale projects that are not straightforward, we need to keep on top of them to ensure they happen because for too long we have been waiting for these projects to move to the point to which they have now moved. The benefits of the St. Stephen's Hospital site have been well documented. It is a greenfield site of over 100 acres that will allow for future development and expansion if it is required. Other sites that were mooted locally did not have those advantages. I am encouraged that progress is being made. It is important to reiterate to the Minister that we want to keep on top of the project and ensure it is top of the agenda. I am encouraged that will be the case if the Minister is getting regular briefs and engaging in regular meetings.

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