Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss the issue of State boards. Last week the development board of the national paediatric hospital appointed a new design team from BDT, a world-renowned firm of architects. The Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, said this is a milestone for the hospital, which is proceeding full steam ahead. We expect planning permission will go through during the summer of 2015 and the first patients will be admitted in 2019. There will be arguments in the coming year over the location - whether it should be on the M50, in Blanchardstown, in the Midlands and so on - but the website for the national paediatric hospital refers to it as a tri-location for paediatrics, maternity and adult health care. The website stresses that the hospital is particularly for children, mothers and neonates.

This is not the first nor second time I have brought this issue to the attention of the Seanad. I must ask the same question for a third time - this time in reference to the remark by the Minister stating "full steam ahead". Will the Minister, the Department and the design team seek planning permission for the maternity hospital at the same time? The hospital is to open in 2019 but I want 20-20 vision on the subject of neonates. It is not acceptable for neonates to be driven by ambulance to the new national paediatric hospital. If planning permission is not sought simultaneously for the maternity hospital it may be too late to seek it when the paediatric hospital is built. Will the Minister seek planning permission for the new maternity hospital? If not, why not?