Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised by this response. I have no information about when it is proposed to build the primary care unit on the St. Mary's campus and I am not aware of the submission of plans. I will table another Adjournment matter to deal with that issue because the centre to which I refer was completed more than four years ago. The Minister of State said the matter goes back to 2004. It is now eight years later and the primary care centre has been there for more than four years. It is only in the past two weeks that the legal transaction and approval by the city council to transfer the building to the HSE occurred.

Why has it taken four years for one statutory agency to transfer this property to another? It does not make sense and a significant amount of time has been lost. I also need clarification as to when it is proposed to deal with St. Mary?s Orthopaedic Hospital. Will this take another eight years while in the meantime services will not be provided?

Several consultants from Cork University Hospital, CUH, are providing paediatric services in Knocknaheeny almost on a voluntary basis every week. It is proving to be successful in the area and assists parents in not having to travel to CUH or other hospitals for treatments.