Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)

There has been much debate in recent years on the new national children's hospital to be located on the site of the Mater Hospital. Most people welcome the construction here of a new national children's hospital but I have been greatly involved with the volunteer sector that has raised funds for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin for the past 20 years. In my new role in the Seanad I have been in contact with a good number of concerned parents with regard to the state of play and the present position of the hospital plan.

Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin was designed in 1936 and eventually built 20 years later. For Tallaght Hospital, the time from conception to build was 18 years. If we go by this trend it may be another 14 to 16 years before the new national children's hospital is built. The last Government chose the Mater site but I understand it will cost approximately €600 million to construct the hospital, with €200 million having to come from philanthropic gestures and fundraising. So far, approximately €30 million of taxpayers' money has been raised. Planning permission has not been applied for and final decisions have not been agreed. At present more than €100 million is being spent in the Crumlin hospital. I understand that in the very near future, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, is to open a brand new intensive care unit in the hospital. This makes no sense to me, to the volunteers or the very concerned parents.

What are the intentions of this Government with regard to the new national children's hospital? We need not debate the site because that argument has taken place but I wish to draw to the Minister's attention the need for the House to learn the state of play regarding the building of the facility. One hopes it will not take 14 or 16 years.