asked the Minister for Health whether, before any major development of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, occurs, he will re-examine the unsuitability of the site in the matter of (a) inaccessibility arising from traffic congestion, (b) noise and (c) fumes and air pollution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mater Hospital, Dublin.
11.
Before arriving at any decision as to the relative suitability of different sites for a particular hospital development many factors have to be considered and it would be most unusual if all the advantages lay with one location. The matters mentioned in the Deputy's question have been taken into account in examining the suitability of the Mater Hospital site and I am satisfied that no further technical examination of the site is required at this stage. The Deputy will also remember that the Minister for Local Government announced in the Dáil last week that he will soon be taking specific action with a view to ensuring better control of matters such as emissions of smoke, dust, grit or gas which affect general environmental amenities.
When the suitability of this site was being decided upon were such factors as proximity to two national stadia taken into account? The site is surrounded by four major traffic arteries and, having regard to the present congestion in and around that area at the moment, people will just not be able to get to the hospital.
All these matters were taken fully into consideration and some steps will have to be taken to deal with the traffic dislocation in that area before the hospital is built.
Is the Minister satisfied with the adequacy of the site for the development envisaged and could he tell us the relative size of the Mater Hospital site vis-à-vis St. Vincent's Hospital at Elm Park?
I am afraid I have not got these figures, but the whole question is being examined by a hospital architect of world reputation who prepared the feasibility report as to the possibility of erecting a large hospital on the Mater site, taking into account in that report the fact that other land in the immediate vicinity would be likely to become available by the time the hospital was built.
12.
asked the Minister for Health whether the proposed major development of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, is in accordance with the Dublin draft development plan.
Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, it is a matter for the developer concerned to apply to the appropriate planning authority in the first instance for outline permission in connection with a proposed development scheme, and at a later stage for detailed planning approval. Any proposals would be considered by a planning authority in the light of the development plan applicable to their area. The nature and extent of any proposed development must be reasonably known before an application is made. That stage has not yet been reached in the case of the hospital development which it has been suggested should take place at the Mater Hospital.