Kildare TD quizzes Health Minister over the location of Children's Hospital
Kildare North T.D. James Lawless has questioned the Minister for Health in the Dáil this week regarding the suitability of the proposed new children’s hospital and raised the prospect of the site being moved to Connolly Hospital.
There has been wide spread objection to the site with campaign group Kids for Connolly lobbying Oireachtas members to highlight their concerns.
In his opening question to Minister Simon Harris, Deputy Lawless stated;
“This decision provoked controversy and a number of groups have made presentations to the relevant committee and contacted Members. Public confidence in the choice of site is not being helped by the lack of a detailed response to concerns expressed about the location.
“It is predicted that this locations will produce traffic chaos. Evidence from Mr. John Smith, a retired paramedic and ambulance driver who was based at St. James's Hospital for 30 years, suggests the difficulty in accessing the site will lead to avoidable deaths of children.
“Concerns have also been raised about staff parking, with spaces due to be provided for only eight of every 100 members of staff in a shift. The modal shift from private to public transport required for the hospital to function, as outlined, has never been achieved in any organisation in the world and is, therefore, a bridge too far.
“I know in my own constituency of Kildare North accessing Connolly would be far easier and quicker a journey than St. James. I am certain this would apply to anyone traveling up to Dublin via the M7 or N4 motorway who, within minutes can be in Connolly once they get onto the M50.
“In conclusion there are multiple concerns that have not been addressed. The public deserve detailed answers from the Government. Once this hospital is built this is an issue which will not again come up for a significant time. If it stays in its current proposed location we may very well have problems in the very near future. We need to get it right, now.