Minister for Health says funding needs to be provided for Coombe Hospital 'as a priority'

The Minister for Health says funding needs to be provided to make the Coombe Hospital's operating theatre fit for purpose.

A HIQA report, on the Dublin maternity hospital, found that the theatre didn't meet international standards.

It is thought it would require a 'major capital investment' of around €15m to fix.

Minister Simon Harris (pictured) says the facility needs to be brought up to standard: "It needs to be provided and it needs to be provided in the context of HSE looking at its capital allocation but there is no doubt that it needs to be provided as a priority.

"The HSE will be reporting back on that shortly, ultimately we need to proceed with the plans to relocate our three maternity hospitals, the Coombe, the Rotunda and National Maternity Hospital."