National children’s hospital location
Patrick Nulty asks for publication and debate on the Dolphin report concerning the national children’s hospital. The Taoiseach says the Health Minister will recommend a location before Government decides and the House debates it.
I welcome the referendum and I look forward to campaigning for a "Yes" vote. On a related issue, does the Taoiseach agree that the construction of the national children's hospital is the most compelling infrastructural issue facing the country? Does he believe the Dolphin report should be published? Will the Government give time for the House to discuss the recommendations of the report and allow Deputies to comment on its findings? When will a decision on the hospital be made?
Comment on this
That will happen inside a relatively short time. The Dolphin report has been given to the Minister for Health. The report does not set out a list of categorised locations. It sets out Dr. Dolphin's views on a number of locations. The Minister must come to Government with a recommendation arising from the Dolphin report. The Government will then make a decision on what will be one of the most important buildings of the next 100 years. Clearly, there will be a debate in the House about that. I can confirm that the Government has not discussed the Dolphin report. I expect the Minister for Health will bring his assessment and recommendation to Cabinet in a matter of weeks.