Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Once again I thank the Senator for her contribution on this matter. I can see how passionate she is in respect of putting forward the name of Dr. Kathleen Lynn as the name. This significant undertaking and the children's hospital project shows the commitment of the Government to develop paediatric services for children and young people, or dare I say to further develop them. The key enabler of the new children's hospital project will be the hub, a national network of paediatric services. This network will support regional local hospitals to deliver acute paediatric care close to home for children, finding more ambulatory care, and integrated locally with community provision. The two supporting satellite centres at Connolly and Tallaght, which represent major milestones as part of the wider reform effort, are completely and fully operational. This hospital, and the wider paediatric network, will substantially develop children and young people's healthcare within the wider Sláintecare vision, providing the right care in the right place at the right time for children and young people throughout Ireland for generations to come. As previously stated, and in terms of the key element of the Senator's Commencement matter this morning, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is mindful of the importance of the naming of the new children's hospital and as such the process for naming the new children's hospital is currently under active consideration.