Archbishop 'unaware' of challenge to Mater choice

The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, who is chairman of the board of Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, says he is unaware of it having examined "any specific project" to challenge legally the planned development of a new national children's hospital.

There has been speculation for some time that staff at Our Lady's Hospital may seek a judicial review of the Government decision to locate the planned new €800 million children's hospital at the Mater.

The Sunday Business Post reported yesterday that the medical board at Crumlin had sought legal advice on the possibility of seeking a judicial review. However, a statement issued by his office last night said Dr Martin was "unaware of any specific project for judicial review having been examined by the board".

The statement also said that the board was "following developments regarding the new national children's hospital to ascertain, in an evidence-based manner, where the new hospital development will actually improve services and quality of care and where not in specific areas".

Staff at Crumlin have been extremely unhappy at the decision to locate the new hospital at the Mater in the city centre. They have argued that the new facility should be developed on a greenfield site, preferably alongside a maternity hospital.

Critics of the Mater site have contended that it is too small and would be badly affected by traffic congestion. A legal challenge could see the development of the controversial new hospital further delayed.

Construction on the project was expected to get under way in 2009 and be completed by the end of 2012.

A spokesman for the HSE said yesterday that it was imperative that the new hospital proceeded as soon as possible.

"It is to be hoped that in the interest of the needs of sick children that nobody would needlessly cause any unnecessary delay or expense to the the development of the hospital", he said.

Under current plans, which were approved by the Cabinet in June 2006, the three existing paediatric hospitals in Dublin - Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght - would move to the new facility at the Mater site.

In October a British-based consultancy group, commissioned to advise on the design of the hospital, backed the Mater site.

It also said that an urgent care centre costing €30 million would have to be built in Tallaght to cater for A&E attendances by children on Dublin's south side before the new national children's hospital is opened on the Mater site.