Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
491. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when the decision regarding the replacing of the Coombe women's hospital will be confirmed; the site for the new hospital; when a planning application will be made; the expected cost; the plans regarding the Coombe hospital site afterwards; and his views on the related issues. [32025/16]
View answerThe relocation of the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital to St James's Hospital was announced on 30th June last year. St James's Hospital is, of course, the site for the new children's hospital. Development of the new maternity hospital will therefore enable us to achieve tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services on the one campus.
The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital relocation project is, as yet, in the very early stages of development and accordingly, I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information requested regarding expected costs or future plans for the hospital site. Significant work, including the preparation of a design brief and detailed design, will be required before any planning application can be made. I also note that it will be necessary for construction of the new children's hospital to be completed before construction of the maternity hospital on the St James's campus can begin.
