Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Rural Independent Group and I tabled a motion in 2018 to have the site for the children's hospital changed from the current site. We brought Dr. Jimmy Sheehan, Fin Breatnach and others from Connolly for Kids in here in 2015 to tell Members that it was the wrong site. They had a 70-acre site out beyond the M50. Dr. Sheehan said that he would build a hospital there in 11 to 13 months for €900 million to €1.1 billion. Here we are and the Government will not take accountability for the appalling mess it has made of this. The Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, signed the contracts, and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, who runs, evades, ducks and dives, is overseeing the project along with the Secretary General of the Department of Health. Nobody is taking accountability. It is simply outrageous. Many people, including sick children, languish as they wait for services. We have a runaway train at the site, and there will not be a hospital there in 2028, never mind 2026. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It is the wrong site. There is no access, no parking and no helipad. The Government is persisting with it and is trying to put a spin on what is happening. This is an unmitigated disaster on the part of the Fine Gael Government, supported by Fianna Fáil. Sinn Féin agreed with the choice of site as well. It voted down a motion to change the site. Ye can all hang your heads in shame.

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