Nama runs rule over former glass bottle site for new children's hospital

THE FORMER Irish Glass Bottle site is understood to be among possible locations for the new children’s hospital identified by the National Assets Management Agency.

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly yesterday told the Dáil that Nama had identified 11 possible sites for the hospital.

The Ringsend location was purchased by a consortium of investors for €412 million in 2006.

Other possible Dublin locations understood to be on the Nama list include a vacant part of Elm Park on Merrion Road which is near St Vincent’s hospital, sources told The Irish Times yesterday.

An 11 acre site on the South Circular Road and several on the North Wall Quay are possible alternatives, sources indicated.

Dr Reilly said Nama had written to him about the matter, adding that some of the locations might be suitable for hospitals of a different nature. Dr Reilly did not list the 11 sites in the Dáil.

The Minister said it was not necessarily part of the review group’s brief to interview Nama about all of its sites.

The group was established to examine alternative locations for the new paediatric hospital, including greenfield sites.It is chaired by former Health Service Executive chairman Frank Dolphin and has been asked to report within 56 days.

The group was appointed earlier this month following the rejection of the Mater hospital site by An Bord Pleanála.

“I am not here to prejudge what the review group will tell me,” said Dr Reilly. “I await its advice and I will act accordingly.”

The group would give an indication of the pros and cons of a new site, “a brownfield site or a greenfield site”, he added.

The Minister was replying to Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy, who noted the recent remarks of Nama chairman Frank Daly that it was considering a number of potential locations for the hospital.

Other sites have been proposed in the weeks since An Bord Pleanála rejected the Mater plans.

These include Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown which is to be proposed to Fingal County Council next month. Solicitor and developer Noel Smyth has also offered a site at Newlands Cross, Tallaght, for the hospital.