Minister: We need to fast track maternity hospital
Donnelly’s hopes for new facility as deal signed off
THE Government is looking at ways to speed up the delivery of the new National Maternity Hospital after Cabinet pushed through approving the controversial deal.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has reiterated the new legal framework would ensure all legally permissible services, such as abortion, will be available there.
Speaking after the Cabinet had signed off on the deal, Minister Donnelly said officials in his department expect that the development of the hospital will take four-and-a-half years from a tender process. But he pointed to the fact that tender stages on significant projects can take up to two years.
He said: “We had a discussion this morning about can anything be done to speed that up.
“We are going to look to see if there are other ways that we can shorten, for example, the procurement [stage].
“The advantage we have here is a lot is done, so planning permission is done, the design is done, the co-location is done, the legal agreements are all in place, work has already been done on site at the pharmacy and on the enabling works.
“So, we’re further ahead in a lot of ways.”
Minister Donnelly said the legal framework will also “prevent any influence, religious or otherwise, on the operation of the new hospital” and “safeguard the State’s significant investment in the hospital.”
He said an annual report will be published for the first five years of the hospital in operation to ensure that all procedures are being provided for.
Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan has said she will break ranks with the Government and vote in favour of a Sinn Fein motion on the new hospital tonight despite the consequences.
The deputy is doing so to “register her objection to the deal”.
But she added: “Voting against the Government will almost certainly result in repercussions.”