Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to come clean about the state of play with the ownership, control and construction of the new National Maternity Hospital.
“How is it that preparations for construction of the new facility are apparently at such an advanced stage yet we are still entirely in the dark over who exactly will own and govern this €350m hospital which will be built and run with public funds?”
Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD today called on the Minister for Health to come clean about the state of play with the ownership, control and construction of the new National Maternity Hospital.
Deputy Shortall said:
“I have learned that a commencement notice for the new hospital at the Elm Park site in Dublin has been submitted by the HSE to Dublin City Council. Under this notice, building work should start on the site as early as next Friday, 14th December, and before the end of the notice period which expires on 28th December.
“How is it that preparations for construction of the new facility are apparently at such an advanced stage yet we are still entirely in the dark over who exactly will own and govern this €350m hospital which will be built and run with public funds?
“We’re also being told that the deal on the new hospital must be done and dusted by the end of December or else the project will hit planning delays. However, we are in no position to assess what this actually means for the future of the project and the quality of the new building.
“Future patients of this hospital have legitimate concerns about how their healthcare needs will be met and whether a full range of legal procedures will be available free from any religious ethos.
“They deserve clear information about the ownership, governance and ethos of the new hospital and what exactly is the role of the Vatican in relation to the disposal of the site. Instead of assurances and spin, we need to know where exactly things stand between the Department of Health and the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group.”
ENDS
12th December 2018