Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue I have raised previously in regard to identifying a site in Cork for a new hospital. We have three main hospitals in Cork, the South Infirmary, the Mercy University Hospital and Cork University Hospital. It is accepted that both the Mercy hospital and the South Infirmary have little space to expand to provide additional services and there is a need to identify a new site. A group was set up in 2009-10 to work on this and it presented a report to the Minister.

In the context of long-term planning, as we have seen in regard to the new children's hospital, which we have been talking about for over 25 years at this stage, we are still in a situation where we are only seeking planning. I understand it will be at least 2020 by the time that hospital project is completed. A similar situation exists in regard to this issue in Cork. We need to work towards a long-term plan for the health service in Cork. The population of Cork is over 526,000 and Cork is part of the regional hospital structure that includes Waterford, Kerry and South Tipperary and further afield. However, all of the specialist services seem to focus on the Dublin region. We need to identify areas where the existing services can be amalgamated and to work towards building a centre of excellence in the Munster region, and Cork is the obvious place for that.

In terms of identifying a site, it does not matter whether it is in the docklands, the Blarney area or wherever, but we need long-term planning, and that will mean a plan covering a period of ten to 15 years for delivery. It is in that context that I raise this matter, calling on the Department of Health to accept the need for a new facility in Cork over the next ten to 15 years. The first step towards achieving that is to identify a site and we can then work from there. I am not talking about substantial moneys being spent immediately but a proposed facility should be part of the overall plan for the health service. It should be accepted that this is essential for the development of the health service in Cork. I call on the Department to come on board with the HSE to identify a site and move forward on this issue.