John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the situation at the children's accident and emergency in Tallaght Hospital; the future plans for the accident and emergency department in Tallaght Hospital with regard to children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7171/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of the concerns previously raised regarding the level of service to be provided at Tallaght in the context of the development of the National Paediatric Hospital. It should be noted that currently the vast majority of children attending the National Children's Hospital Emergency Department do not require admission, and will continue to access their care at the new Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centre which is to be developed at Tallaght. It has been estimated that when the first Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centre is developed at Tallaght it will cater for approximately 48,000 emergency attendances, 9,000 day cases and 58,000 out-patient attendances. Clearly the projected level of activity would change depending on the number of such centres to be developed.

My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly on the specific operational issues raised in the Deputy's question.