THE GOVERNMENT’s new expert group looking at the future of the proposed national children’s hospital will be able to examine alternative locations to the Mater hospital, including greenfield sites.
Minister for Health James Reilly said yesterday that “everything is on the table”.
The Cabinet yesterday approved the terms of reference of the new group, which is to be chaired by former chairman of the Health Service Executive Frank Dolphin.
The group has been asked to report within 56 days on the implications of the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the new national children’s hospital on the proposed site at the Mater hospital in Dublin’s city centre.
Dr Reilly said the Dolphin group would advise the Government on “where to go next and on what is the most expeditious way of getting the hospital built”.
The Minister said the Government’s primary concern was to see the new national children’s hospital built as quickly as possible. However, he said he did not want to see the project rushed either.
He said in its deliberations the Dolphin group could look at other alternatives to the Mater location, including the use of a greenfield site.
Asked whether a move to a greenfield site at this stage would allow the project to be developed within the lifetime of the Government, as promised by the Taoiseach, Dr Reilly said that this would prove challenging but would present some advantages.
“Presumably you would have better access, would not be dealing with a difficult site as there is in the Mater. You would be able to build 24 hours per day if you were away from a built-up area, which you would presume it would be if it were a greenfield site. They would be considerable advantages in expediting the construction when you got through the tendering and planning process.”
Dr Reilly had previously suggested a smaller children’s hospital could be developed at the Mater site. However, he denied he was leaning towards a greenfield location. He said it would be wrong for him to prejudge the expert group.
