Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
66. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the way in which she intends to put in place an accelerated process to deliver the critical care wing of the Rotunda Hospital in light of the recent rejection of planning permission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17641/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to driving improvements across maternity services including continued investment in the Rotunda Hospital.
My officials and I met with representative from the Rotunda Hospital and the Health Service Executive this week and it was agreed that a new planning application will be submitted by the Rotunda. The application will include two additional elements:
Critical care capacity for women expanding on the earlier application which was focused solely on infants
An enhanced Sexual Assault Treatment Unit
My priority is to ensure the delivery of appropriate additional capacity for the Rotunda as quickly as possible. The Rotunda’s expansion, together with continued strengthened collaboration with the Mater, represents the most practical and immediate pathway to deliver that priority today.
Co-location of maternity hospitals with acute adult hospitals is recognised as international best practice as it provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services, which is paramount for high-risk mothers and babies.
Enhancing critical care facilities on the Rotunda site will differentiate the Rotunda Hospital from the co-location policy because the benefits of co-location can be achieved through the already established pathways to the Mater. The principle of safe stabilisation and assured access to adult acute services underpins this Government’s co-location policy and how it is applied in practice.
I will continue to work with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, to ensure that health infrastructure is fully recognised as critical infrastructure within the forthcoming reforms arising from the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
