Mater Hospital should be up now

Sir — It is reported (Sunday Independent, February 3) that Leo Varadkar stated that the project for the children’s hospital at the Mater Hospital project was a “failed plan”.

To the best of my knowledge, and I’ll stand corrected, when the idea of a new children’s hospital was mooted some years ago, an independent panel of experts was formed, some from overseas, and after examining the options for a site, they settled for the Mater Hospital.

Plans went ahead, architects, designers, builders and so forth were employed, the final construction displayed.

The planners objected to the height — it was not in harmony with the existing skyline — and two storeys were deleted, but the planners were still not satisfied, so the project was scrapped.

This, according to Mr Varadkar, after €40m of taxpayers’ money was spent.

Health Minister Simon Harris calls for accountability in the over-run of the St James’s Hospital expenses. Surely the taxpayer is also entitled to accountability regarding the Mater rejection, and why it “failed”.

Let’s face it, if the Mater had been accepted, sick children would now be attended to.

Patrick Fleming Glasnevin Dublin 9