Prof: Tallaght site more suitable for children's hospital
Tallaght hospital is more suitable to house the new national children's hospital now than it was when first considered years ago, according to a former Vice Chairman of the Board of the hospital.
Professor Ian Graham, now with Trinity College Dublin, has said a number of improvements have been made since the site was ruled out a number of years ago.
Plans to locate the new children's hospital at the Mater in Dublin city centre were scuppered by An Bord Pleanala yesterday.
It raised concerns about its potential to have a negative impact on the city skyline.
Health Minister Dr James Reilly has appointed a committee to advise the Government on whether to amend the plan, or choose a new site.
Professor Graham said, with the Coombe Maternity Hospital set to move to Tallaght, it makes the site more suitable than in the past.
He also said he personally left a copy of the old investigative report with the Health Minister, Doctor James Reilly.
Pat Rabbitte has said he always had "serious doubts" about the choice of the Mater site because of concerns about the city centre location related to access, transport, parking and other practical issues.
The Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister said the overriding imperative now is to build the hospital as quickly as possible.
Earlier, businesswoman Norah Casey, a former nurse who sits on the hospital's board, has said she hoped the existing plan could be revised and re-submitted to the planning board.
"The fact is all the hard work (around the model of care) has been done. We're really at the point of talking about the bricks," she said.
"This isn't just about a site...This is about a change in the way children all over Ireland are cared for."
