Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 160: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the remarks of the Church of Ireland Archbishop (details supplied); her plans to meet the Archbishop to discuss the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18633/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I met with Archbishop Neill last January at his request to discuss the review of the delivery of tertiary paediatric services that was at that time being undertaken by McKinsey & Co., and we discussed his concerns in relation to the position of Tallaght Hospital vis-À-vis the outcome of the review.

The Health Service Executive published the McKinsey Report on 3rd February last. The report recommends that best outcomes for children would be obtained by developing one national tertiary paediatric centre, which would also provide all secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area. The report also recommends that ideally the new facility should be located on the site of, or adjacent to, a major adult teaching hospital in order to achieve the maximum service benefit for children.

Arising from the report's recommendations, a joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Task Group was established to progress matters and to advise on the optimal location for the new facility. As part of its work, the Group invited submissions from Tallaght Hospital and the other Academic Teaching Hospitals in Dublin in relation to the possible co-location of the proposed new hospital on their sites. Subsequently, the Group met with senior representatives of the hospitals and also visited the hospital campuses.

In the course of the Group's deliberations a number of important issues arose that were not included in its original remit. In particular, the importance of co-location with a Maternity Unit has been identified as an issue of significance. In addition, a number of proposals have been received from the private sector in relation to the building of the new facility.

The Task Group's remit has, accordingly, been extended to allow the Group to examine the issues which have arisen, as a consequence of which the Group is now expected to report in or around the end of May. My primary concern is to ensure that, in determining the optimum location for the new children's hospital, we arrive at a solution which is in the best interests of the children of this country.