Simon Harris defends location of children’s hospital

Further debate on the location of the new national children's hospital would not create a consensus, Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.

“My priority, as I have stated previously, is to make progress on the new hospital as soon as possible in order that we can ensure children, young people and their families have the facilities they need and deserve,’’ he said.

Mr Harris told the Dáil the government’s decision in 2012 to locate the hospital on the St James’s Hospital campus in Dublin was made in the best interests of children from a clinical perspective.

Objectors to the location raised concerns, primarily access to the site, he said.

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Access to hospital

“I reassure parents that the plans and design for the hospital recognise the need of most families to access the hospital by car, while noting that the campus is better served by public transport than any other hospital in the country,’’ Mr Harris added.

He said two paediatric outpatient and urgent care satellite centres would be provided at Tallaght and Connolly hospitals, respectively.

The Minister was replying to Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless who said public confidence in the choice of the site was not being helped by the lack of a detailed response to concerns expressed about the location.

“It would be helpful if those concerns were robustly addressed,’’ Mr Lawless added.

Mr Harris said there would be a total of 1,000 parking spaces, which was three times the number of spaces available for the three existing paediatric hospitals.