Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly hospital; the timeframe for same; the issues arising with regard to ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52633/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The model of stand-alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally. In line with the National Maternity Strategy, Government policy is to co-locate all remaining maternity hospitals with adult acute services in order to provide optimal clinical outcomes. Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high risk mothers and babies. 

Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027 provide capital funding to support implementation of the Maternity Strategy, including the relocation of the Rotunda. I have been advised that the Rotunda hospital has prepared a Design Brief for the new facility. In addition, a Development Control Plan for the Connolly campus has been commissioned to support the orderly development of future capital projects on that campus, including the Maternity Hospital. As the project is at an early development stage, it would be premature to provide any indicative time frames for completion at this point.