Rural TDs opposed to national children’s hospital plan in Dublin city centre

Rural Independent TDs have called for the Government to cancel plans to build a new national children’s hospital in Dublin city centre, warning the location will fail to help children and teenagers in genuine need.

The six-strong opposition group issued the demand despite the Government and rival parties saying that while the St James’s site is not ideal, families have already waited for decades to see the facility built.

Speaking during a Dáil private members motion yesterday which was watched from the public gallery by a large number of families of sick children, Independent TD Mattie McGrath said it is a “national disgrace” that “trophy projects” were taking precedence over those in need.