Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Gannon for his Topical Issue on this subject. I was born in the Rotunda Hospital and my mother used to work there, so I appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns relating to the expansion of neonatal facilities at the Rotunda Hospital. I do so on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

As the Deputy said, the Rotunda is one of the busiest maternity hospitals in the whole of Europe. More than 8,600 babies were delivered there in 2024 and more than 1,300 babies were cared for in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, the NICU. This NICU is one of four tertiary NICUs in Ireland, providing essential support for some of the sickest infants and their families. The Deputy will be aware that the critical care wing is a planned development on the existing Rotunda Hospital campus to address high-priority clinical areas. The new wing will provide additional NICU capacity, more single rooms, more delivery suite capacity, and a new theatre. This development will increase capacity at the hospital and ensure that the hospital can provide for the increasing number of presentations. The HSE has advised that this project is currently at stage 2B of design, and is looking to progress procurement of enabling works. In August of this year, the Master of the Rotunda, Professor Sean Daly, wrote to both the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, among others, concerning the development of the critical care wing. Professor Daly noted concerns raised from An Taisce and the Dublin Civic Trust regarding this development despite engaging with them at a local level. He advised that the Dublin Civic Trust has indicated its intention to appeal the planning decision. It is important to note that neither the Minister nor the Department of Health, as the Deputy noted, have any remit over planning regulations. Planning regulations lie within the remit of the Department of housing, which has responsibility for the implementation of the planning Act 2024, including the design and implementation of planning regulations under the Act. Neither the Department of Health nor the HSE can comment on the review of planning regulations currently under way. However, while the planning process for the critical care wing progresses, the Government is investing to ensure the Rotunda continues to deliver the highest standards of quality care, including for neonates.

The hospital's budget has increased to €109 million this year. This is an increase of 47% or €35 million since 2020. The HSE has purchased an additional building, Hampson House, to extend capacity. Hampson House was officially opened in January this year. Over 100,000 outpatient and ambulatory patients are expected to attend there annually. Several service improvements are also being driven by the hospital and through the national maternity strategy. The Minister for Health visited the Rotunda in June to launch a new NICU resource for parents. This welcome pack has been designed for parents of babies transferred to the Rotunda NICU, and particularly those who have been unexpectedly transferred from maternity units around Ireland. It includes a variety of immediate practical support and guidance, including leaflets, toiletries and gift vouchers for accommodation and groceries. This is just one example of how the Government will continue to support the Rotunda Hospital to meet the needs of the women, infants and the families it serves.

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