James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to announce that the Cabinet had accepted my recommendation to develop the new national children's hospital at the campus of St. James's Hospital in Dublin. The rejection by An Bord Pleanála earlier this year of the proposal to develop a children's hospital on the site of the Mater hospital was very disappointing, particularly given the many real strengths of that location. In response, I established a review group, chaired by Dr. Frank Dolphin, to advise me on the best way forward and the group presented its report to me in June. Unfortunately, after consideration and further detailed analysis, the Government decided it could not proceed with a site with such a significant planning risk. In identifying the new site we have carefully considered the report of the Dolphin group along with detailed supplementary information on cost, time and planning issues. I again express my thanks and praise to Dr. Dolphin and his group for the key role they played in helping us to reach our conclusion. I take the opportunity to say that not for the first time the good will of people towards this project was shown in abundance. On the previous occasion we asked four international experts to give us their opinion and they did quite a body of work gratis. Similarly, the Dolphin group also worked gratis.

The report of the group reiterates what all previous reports on the national children's hospital have stated, which is that any decision must be based first and foremost on clinical considerations. Both the Mater hospital and St. James's Hospital have the necessary clinical mass and both are at the cutting edge of Irish health care. However, the Dolphin report and subsequent work undertaken by members of that group made it very clear that the planning risks associated with the Mater hospital are still significant. The decision on where the new children's hospital should be situated was not an easy one. Over the summer officials in my Department and I looked closely at all the proposals submitted, each of which had its own particular strengths. I thank all the hospitals that took part in the review process for their hard work and dedicated enthusiasm. In the end, however, the decision had to be made. As Senators will know there can never be a perfect site, but as we said previously we cannot let perfection be the enemy of excellence.

This decision has been made in the best interests of children with clinical considerations being paramount. It is essential that the new children's hospital can deliver best clinical outcomes for our children. Co-location with an adult hospital has been deemed essential in the Dolphin report and in all previous reports on the issue, while tri-location with a maternity hospital is optimum. Co-location and ultimately tri-location with a maternity hospital on the St. James's campus will support the provision of excellence in clinical care that children deserve.

I now intend to move quickly to put in place all the necessary arrangements to enable the delivery of this project as quickly as possible and to the highest quality. The Government regards the building of the new national children's hospital as a key priority and no effort will be spared in expediting its completion. We must now get on with building this hospital to the highest quality with best value for money as quickly as possible so that we can continue to provide the best of care, but now in the best of environments.