Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The health of our children and future generations is in our hands. It is important we do everything in our power to ensure the national children's hospital is built as soon as possible with as little cost to the Exchequer as possible. In light of the fact that planning permission will not be sought for a maternity hospital at the same time as the new national children's hospital, when will an application for planning permission for a maternity hospital be submitted?

The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, was in this House recently and there was a good debate. I mentioned that Dr. Finn Breathnach contacted me to say how vital it is that a specialist maternity hospital be co-located with the national children's hospital. The life of a baby could be at risk if he or she must be transferred by ambulance rather than pushed across a corridor to the national children's hospital.

The site at St. James's Hospital has become controversial. It is a brilliant adult hospital but we are trying to build a children's hospital in its car park. I hope the national children's hospital gets planning permission but I am worried because the board of that hospital has obviously told the Minister that there is insufficient time for architects to have plans ready in time to submit the two planning permission applications together.

What if we get planning permission for the national children's hospital but in a year's time fail to obtain planning permission for the national maternity hospital? It would be a complete mess. I am interested to hear the Minister of State's response.