Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur fá choinne díospóireacht a bheith againn. I request a debate on the location of the national children's hospital, an issue that has been raised previously in the House. While An Bord Pleanála has made its determination and granted planning permission for the hospital, neither House has debated the location for the new hospital which will require public investment of €1 billion. The D'Alton report of 2012 suggested the cost of building the facility at the St. James's Hospital site would be 25% higher than building it on a greenfield site. These issues of public expenditure issues need to be debated at the Joint Committee on Health and I suggest the Seanad also debate the location selected for the hospital.

Many commentators and experts, including children's organisations and medical experts, have outlined their concerns about this issue and their voices should be heard because not only have they not been heard, but they have been diminished. The reason given by the Health Service Executive and Department for locating the national children's hospital at St. James's Hospital is that it will deliver better clinical outcomes. There is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. Major questions have been asked about this substantial investment of taxpayers' money. The alternative sites available would provide comparable or better clinical outcomes and they should be explored. I call on the Leader, who is familiar with this issue from his previous role as Chairman of the Committee on Health and Children, to facilitate a lengthy debate on the issue in the Seanad and to invite the Minister for Health before the House to answer some questions.