Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she supports the retention and development of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35436/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the proposed plan for Crumlin Children's Hospital; the provision for a new hospital; the timeframe for a new hospital; the location of the new hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35539/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 265 together.

It has been accepted that the current infrastructure at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children does not generally meet the standards required for a modern paediatric hospital. The available facilities do not satisfactorily accommodate the range and extent of current clinical and associated activity. In recognition of this, a project team was established to plan for the overall future development of Our Lady's Hospital, either on the existing hospital site or at an alternative green field location.

The project team has undertaken a detailed examination of the potential to redevelop the hospital on its present site. The project team concluded that the existing clinical services could be retained and developed on the present site but also set out the implications of such an approach in terms of time, cost and disruption to services. As a consequence, it is likely that the new hospital will be located at an alternative site.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to arrange for a review to be undertaken of highly specialised paediatric services to ensure that they are provided in the most efficient and effective manner. The outcome of this review will help to inform the decision in the range of services to be provided at the new Crumlin hospital. I expect this review to be completed as a matter of urgency.

It is proposed, when the review has been completed, that a site option appraisal study will be carried out, the focus of which will be to evaluate the options for the relocation of the hospital, leading to the acquisition of an alternative site, if such is recommended by the process. The study will be subject to public tendering procedures.

Pending final decisions with regard to the future location of the hospital, three clinical departments have been identified as requiring urgent upgrade or expansion. The three departments are haematology-oncology, radiology, including MRI, and cardiology. The haematology-oncology project consists of the provision of new accommodation for day and outpatient services. The radiology project will provide new MRI facilities in Crumlin. The cardiology project will provide dedicated inpatient cardiac beds, together with diagnostic, outpatient and administration facilities. Additional revenue funding is required in 2006 to commission the MRI facilities and I confirm that this funding is available to the Health Service Executive.