Government may set Rotunda Hospital as critical infrastructure to be rushed through planning

Minister Jack Chambers wants the critical infrastructure legislation to 'change the risk-averse nature of how decisions have been made across the public service'

On Tuesday, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the Government was dropping plans to relocate the Rotunda Maternity Hospital in Dublin city centre to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins photos

The Rotunda Hospital expansion could be expedited under new critical infrastructure legislation that is due to be enacted before the summer.

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers launched plans on Wednesday that will see infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest being classified as critical and rushed through the planning process.

On Tuesday, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the Government was dropping plans to relocate the Rotunda Maternity Hospital in Dublin city centre to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.

A new planning application will be submitted following An Coimisiún Pleanála’s refusal of plans for a new €100m critical care wing following successful objections from conservation groups.

Mr Chambers confirmed on Wednesday that the hospital is in line to be considered critical infrastructure if planning permission is granted.

“I welcome the work that minister Carroll MacNeill has taken to clarify the wider policy position relating to the Rotunda Hospital," he said.

“She's planning to expand the critical care capacity of the Rotunda in the context of a future application.

“A project like the Rotunda could well be designated as critical infrastructure to accelerate it through the infrastructure cycle."

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

He said health infrastructure, particularly for major projects with significant bed capacity, shouldn't be waiting in an endless delay.

“I know minister Carroll MacNeill is working with the Rotunda on developing an application quickly, and such a project could be designated as critical infrastructure when it's finalised in terms of its design and its planning application.

“I welcome the quick and speedy response from the minister on what was a shocking decision, and again, a feature of the excessive and subjective nature of some of the planning decisions which we've seen.”

Ms Carroll MacNeill said she will be making the case for the Rotunda expansion to “jump to the top of the queue” under the legislation.

Planning delays

Mr Chambers said he wants the legislation to “change the culture and the risk-averse nature of how decisions have been made across the public service”.  

He said any State body that does not “actively support infrastructure delivery will face funding or sanction consequences or may be centrally reviewed”.

While people will still have an opportunity to make submissions on planning permissions, there will not be an “endless delay” caused by objections, he said.

“We know that some of the objections that are made are simply to delay a project because they know the process is too slow.”

He vowed that public bodies will still conduct environmental assessments, but that often complaints are made that have “nothing to do with safeguarding habitats” and are “pure objectionism”.