Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

183. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address concerns that the site of the national children’s hospital at St. James’s will be unable to accommodate the co-location of the maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17978/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As has been previously stated, it is the intention of this Government that there will be co-location of maternity services at the new children's hospital site at St James's. The National Maternity Strategy published in January 2016, reaffirms the commitment to delivery of tri-located maternity services on the St. James’s campus. 

It is proposed to relocate the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital to the St James's Hospital campus, thereby achieving tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services.   A site for the proposed maternity hospital is identified in the St. James' Site Master Plan, and the new children's hospital design has incorporated the required operational links with both the maternity and adult hospitals. While the construction of the new maternity hospital will not commence until the new children's hospital is completed, the preparatory work for the new maternity hospital will begin in advance.