asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the lack of public transport services to the proposed new general hospital at Blanchardstown and the inaccessibility of this hospital to the vast majority of residents on the north side of Dublin city; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Hospital Inaccessibility.
1.
The question of public transport services is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport and Power and Córas Iompair Éireann. However, I have made inquiries from CIE and I understand that, in addition to the normal scheduled services to Blanchardstown, special bus services for visitors to the hospital operate from the city centre every day of the week. The existing services are adequate to meet the present demand and CIE are keeping the position under regular review.
With regard to the accessibility of Blanchardstown, the position is that in Dublin the distance involved from any area to a major hospital is not great. It would be altogether impracticable to provide a general acute hospital in each area in which there has been large scale housing development. In recommending the Blanchardstown site for development as an acute hospital, the consultative council on the general hospital services took all the relevant factors into consideration including the major development being planned for the Blanchardstown area.
Is the Minister aware that the majority of people on the north side of the city of Dublin who wish to go to Blanchardstown Hospital as out-patients under the new function of that hospital will have to travel into the city centre and then out to Blanchardstown and that this travel could involve up to one hour and possibly more and, even though it is geographically close to the north side of Dublin city, transportwise it is a long way away from the majority of people?
By the time this hospital is built up to 500 beds I would imagine that the character of transport will be changed so that transport facilities will facilitate patients and out-patients.
Question No. 2.
At present and until such time as this happens the only people who will be able to afford to travel as out-patients to Blanchardstown Hospital will be patients covered by medical cards who will have taxis provided free by the Eastern Health Board. There is no other way in which one can get a patient to Blanchardstown Hospital.
I am quite certain that the 120 beds that are being planned for this hospital will be adequately filled by people who will find the transport facilities suitable.
I am talking about out-patients.
Question No. 2. I am sorry, Deputy, we have 143 questions. Will the Deputy please resume his seat? Will the Deputy please resume his seat or leave the House?
I think it is a very important thing.
It is. The Deputy's questions seem to be more important than other Deputies' questions.
It is an important thing from the point of view——
We have 143 questions and the Deputy should not monopolise Question Time. The Deputy has been allowed three supplementaries.
We will have quantity instead of quality.