A vital facility catering for some of Ireland’s most seriously ill children has been dragged into the 21st century after big-hearted private donors stepped in to fill a Government funding hole.

People are being urged to host a table quiz this month to help raise funds to upgrade children’s cancer wards at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

Golf superstar Graeme McDowell last night donated $200,000 (€159,000) to Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

Co-location must remain the top priority in deciding the site for the new National Children's Hospital, according to one of the country's top consultant cardiologists.

A senior consultant has raised concerns that the level of paediatric services in Ireland is not adequate.

Health Minister James Reilly said the Government was not “wed” to the Mater site as a location for the new children’s hospital, but said it did need to be co-located with an adult hospital.

Health Minister James Reilly has said his priority is getting a new national children's hospital built, rather than upgrading existing facilities.

Sick children being treated at Crumlin Hospital in Dublin are being given world-class care in cramped and outdated facilities.

The Cabinet is to meet to discuss the National Children’s Hospital debacle tomorrow amid growing opposition to downsizing the facility and increasing evidence of the crisis within existing paediatric services.