Consortium contacted over new Mater unit

BUSINESSMEN who offered to pay for a new children’s hospital on the outskirts of Dublin have been contacted about supporting a rival plan.

A consortium led by solicitor and property developer Noel Smyth has received a letter in the past week looking for a meeting on the development of the new paediatric centre of excellence at the Mater Hospital.

It was the first contact between the Health Service Executive and the group for six months.