I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 38, 75 and 221 together.
The new Tallaght Hospital will open next Sunday, 21 June. This date was set last year by the board of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating the National Children's hospital as the opening date for the new hospital. Since the agreement was reached on the development of the new hospital in Tallaght, it has always been accepted that the three constituent hospitals would close when the new hospital is opened.
In relation to accident and emergency services it is difficult at this stage to predict the pattern that these will take, following the relocation of some of the present services. However, the Eastern Health Board has conducted a detailed exercise in mapping the present geographical patterns of patient flows into accident and emergency departments. This will provide information to assist in meeting the immediate requirements of the south inner city area for accident and emergency ambulance purposes. However, it may take a number of months before clear trends emerge. Any shifts in the pattern of accident and emergency attendances will be carefully monitored by the Eastern Health Board through its accident and emergency steering committee. My Department will give full consideration to any recommendations which may emerge from this monitoring process. Based on the information to hand at present, I am happy that St. James's Hospital will be able to meet the acute hospital needs of the south inner city following the opening of the new hospital in Tallaght.
