Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
550 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the mooted merger between Tallaght Hospital and St. James’s; and his further views on such a move if it involves a significant improvement in services at both hospitals and reduces administrative overlap between the two hospitals. [11465/04]
View answer551 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the mooted merger between Tallaght Hospital and St. James’s will only be approved by him when he is certain that such a merger will not involve a diminution in the services currently offered by Tallaght Hospital. [11466/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. I understand that informal exploratory discussions have been taking place between St. James's Hospital, the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, and the Medical Faculty of Trinity College Dublin regarding the scope for the integration of their governance structures.
It will be for the three institutions, in the first instance, to come to a view as to whether such integration would be in their best interests. As far as I am aware, there is no question of any change in governance arrangements without the agreement of all the parties involved nor is there any question of a diminution of services.
