Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, has had to substitute for the Minister for Health for a debate in this House. She is very welcome.

For the sick children of Ireland and their worried parents it is utterly disappointing that the proposed national children's hospital has been plunged back into question and crisis. The amalgamation of the three Dublin hospitals under one roof was first proposed in 1993, as Senator Devine has said. The project has been subject to continual delay. It has taken 25 years to get to this point and now with the start line in sight we have been told that the HSE does not have adequate funds to proceed. The longer this project is delayed, the higher the costs. Building inflation has risen from 3%, when the St. James's site was selected, to 9% now due to improvements in the economy.

Our children have waited long enough. They deserve a world class hospital and treatment. Last Monday, RTE's "Prime Time Investigates" told the awful stories of children in pain. Their lives will be damaged forever because the State has let them down and it must stop. We need the children's hospital to be provided as soon as possible.

We were all touched by the stories of the children with scoliosis. They have waited months and years for an operation while the theatre that was originally built to treat scoliosis lies more or less idle due to a shortage of theatre nurses. This is not good enough for these children. There has been a great public response to their plight. It is terrible that again it takes a show like "Prime Time Investigates" to shine a light on these important matters because the data is well known. What will the Minister do to resolve the matter?

On the show we also heard the story of others who have been failed by the health system. On a number of occasions in this House and elsewhere, I have raised the life threatening situation that exists for women in Cork caused by another operating theatre being left idle. Ms Patricia Connolly told her story of waiting for over a year for a gynaecology appointment. She is condemned to a life of pain and must take painkillers. She is one of at least 4,265 women, if not more, who await a gynaecological assessment. We still have not heard from the Minister what he will do to resolve the matter. I want to hear how he will provide a children's hospital and assist other people who await vital treatments and interventions.