Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

However, the chairman's resignation reignited the debate about the location and funding structure of the new national paediatric hospital. The debate is centred around two key aspects of the development, namely, its location and its funding. I am somewhat mystified as to the reason the decision was made to build a multi-million euro state-of-the-art hospital right in the heart of Dublin city. However, I must bow to the wisdom of the members of the paediatric hospital development board on that matter. I am not an expert in paediatrics and certainly do not claim to have any superior knowledge to those involved in choosing the site. I refer in particular to the comments of the chief executive officer of that body who stated it was important to remember what was best for children and that a co-located hospital, unlike a greenfield site, had the collective expertise amassed on a single site, as well as the economies of scale associated with being next to an existing hospital. Members also should reflect on the words of a board member of the Faculty of Paediatrics of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, who recently stated "the vast majority of paediatricians countrywide [were] behind this project". In fact, the dean of that faculty called an emergency meeting of its board on the morning of 12 October, five days after the resignation of the aforementioned chairperson. That board went on formally to endorse the national paediatric hospital in advance of issuing a statement confirming the faculty's strong support for the project. Members also should reflect on the words of a parent of two children with cystic fibrosis, as quoted in the national press some days ago, who stated "we [now] have an opportunity to build a world-class facility for our children, so let's get on with it and get it built".

All Members' focus must lie on simply getting on with the project and reassuring parents and children that they are deadly serious about providing a world-class children's hospital. My concerns do not centre on the hospital's location but rather on the resources required to build it. Latest estimates put the cost of construction at approximately €650 million. To date, the Government has committed €400 million and I was heartened to hear the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, state earlier that this would be increased next year to €450 million. The board of the hospital expects to raise €90 million through the private operation of the car park, retail units and research facilities in the hospital. Following that, this is the point about which I am deeply concerned, at least €110 million in funding must be raised through philanthropy, that is, through a combination of corporate fund-raising and private donations.

In her contribution, the Minister, Deputy Harney, mentioned that Canada recently had succeeded in raising €98 million for a similar facility there. However, Canada is a country of 33 million people, approximately ten times the population of Ireland. Canada is not going through the deep economic crisis that Ireland is suffering. It was telling to listen to Senator Fitzgerald's observations on the report from the Jack and Jill Foundation to the effect that its fund-raising is down by 25% this year. Moreover, the ISPCC, a children's charity, is unable to raise sufficient money itself to ensure that all calls to Childline are answered on a daily basis. Consequently, I have concerns that this figure of €110 million is not realistic in the current climate. The Minister stated there will be a commitment in the four-year budgetary strategy towards ensuring that the aforementioned €450 million in funding will remain in place for the hospital. It is most important that this commitment be reiterated in the Budget Statement, whenever that might take place, because unless such a commitment is forthcoming, one must question whether Ireland has the resources to continue or whether the Government is serious about so doing.

It also is important to get some clarity and transparency and to apply some scrutiny to the claims of the board of the new hospital that it can raise the other €90 million through commercial activity within the hospital, including as the Minister noted the renting of rooms to consultants on a private basis, as well as through the car park facilities and other commercial activities within the site. Perhaps €90 million can be achieved but more clarity is required in this regard. I am utterly and completely supportive of the concept and it is past time to end the discussion on the location. The issue is about providing such world-class tertiary care for seriously ill children in a suitable location. I do not subscribe to the argument that one needs to be within an hour's drive from this facility. That is not the kind of care it sets out to provide.

Can we have clarity from the Government that the €450 million is sacrosanct, untouchable and will remain in place irrespective of the comings and goings of the next weeks and months? We need to hear that commitment made in the budget speech. If it transpires that the €110 million simply cannot be raised through philanthropy, the Government may have to step in at some point and make up the shortfall. Making that commitment now may not be the right thing to do because it might discourage a comprehensive effort on the part of the fund-raisers. The Government must realise, however, that it may have to step in at some point in the very near future and supplement the €450 million already committed. This project needs to be completed quickly. I am very supportive of the concept.