asked the Minister for Health if any consideration has been given to erecting a modern general public hospital in the northern suburbs of Dublin city; and if any decision has been taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Hospital.
4.
The question of the hospital services required for north Dublin is dealt with in the report of the consultative council on the general hospital services which envisages the development of a regional hospital on the Mater Hospital site and a general hospital at the Blanchardstown site. Both my predecessor and myself have indicated our acceptance, in principle, of the recommendations in the report and the hospital authorities concerned in the north city area i.e. Jervis St. Hospital, Mater Hospital, St. Laurence's Hospital and the Dublin Health authority, are at present actively considering the matter. Much progress has been made already in these discussions and I would hope to be in a position in the near future to indicate specifically the programme for general hospital development in north Dublin.
Are there any plans for a hospital in the Coolock/Artane/ Raheny area?
No. The position is as I have indicated. The recommendations of the FitzGerald Report dealt with a regional hospital in the south city area and the question of the general hospital in Blanchardstown.
Is the Minister not aware that this area now has a population of somewhere in the region of 40,000 to 50,000 and more houses are going up in the Kilbarrack/Baldoyle area? The people in these areas have to go all the way into the city. Surely there should be a hospital somewhere in the vicinity?
Would the Minister state if this means the physical transfer of Jervis Street and St. Laurence's Hospitals to the Mater Hospital site?
I take it that is so.