Seanad debates

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

11:10 am

Photo of Eamonn CoghlanEamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today is a great news days for children's cardiac services in Ireland. Gone is the Third World, 50-year out of date, crammed facility of St. Teresa's ward in Crumlin with the opening of a state-of-the-art cardiac unit with 25 units which will cater for children all over Ireland, both North and South. That is thanks to the millions of euro that were raised by parents, volunteers, marathon runners, golfers and even our dear friend GMac, the US open champion, whose contribution funded four of the 25 units.

An Taisce raised concerns recently about the new paediatric hospital on the St. James's site, namely, that it could be in breach of EU and Irish planing law because it will not be colocated with a maternity hospital. I raised this issue with the Minister earlier in the year when St. James's Hospital was chosen as the site for the new paediatric hospital. I pointed out to the Minister that very day in this Chamber that having a maternity hospital within the new hospital is part of phase 2 and I stated that the history of phase 2 buildings in hospitals over many years has never been completed. I asked him could he clarify if the maternity hospital would be built. Second phase projects simply do not work. I request the Leader to ask the Minister to come into the House to discuss this issue with regard to planning permission which has not yet even been granted on the St. James's site. We all know that An Bord Pleanála turned down the Mater site, which has spent millions of euro on that project which would have built 100 units in Crumlin Hospital. Let us not go down that road again and let us not push this beyond 2020.

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