Children's hospital decision not political, claims HSE chief

A recommendation to locate a new national children’s hospital in the Bertie Ahern’s constituency was not a political one, it was maintained today.

The decision to develop the six hectare Mater Hospital site in Dublin’s north inner city was made by independent professionals, according to Professor Brendan Drum, chief executive of the HSE.

“I have had no political interference from the Taoiseach, Tanaiste or anybody else,” he said. “I would have exited at this stage if that was the case.

“People in Dublin think of this as a Dublin children’s hospital, but it is not, it’s a children’s hospital for the people of Ireland.”

A previous study found that Ireland, based on its population size, can only support one world class tertiary (specialist) children’s hospital and concluded it should be located in Dublin and co-located with a leading adult academic hospital.

It also stated it must be easily accessible through public transport and the road network and cater for the secondary paediatric needs of the greater Dublin area.

The Joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Task Group recommended the Mater site, based on several factors relating to the current location of clinical services around the city and the speed with which the children’s hospital could be developed.

But objectors to the proposed site argue it has poor public transport access and parking there is very limited. The Tallaght Hospital Action Group has said it will fight the decision.

Supporting plans to build a metro station under the hospital during its construction, Prof Drum told RTE radio: “We cannot build a whole new facility on the basis of the transport infrastructure that’s there now.

“We are looking at building here what’s going to take a number of years to build and we are looking at it in terms of transport infrastructure that’s planned for this city over the next 20-30 years.”