Heney says Government must explain raid on Children’s Hospital funds

The Government must explain why it has raided the funds earmarked for the National Children’s Hospital to fund projects as part of the recent stimulus announcement.

 

Cllr. Deirdre Heney, Fianna Fáil said ‘I share the view of our Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher who said “the Government has announced that it will use money from the sale of state assets including the National Lottery licence to fund the stimulus and we were previously told the money from the sale of the National Lottery licence was to be used to finance the building of a new national children’s hospital.

 

“In the Government’s own Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16 Review last November it stated: ‘It is the Government’s desire to use the upfront payment to fund the National Children’s Hospital.’ “

 

“How can the Government’s commitment to the National Children’s Hospital have any credibility if they’re spending the money to be raised from the National Lottery licence two times over?  The Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure must immediately clarify this situation.”

 

Cllr. Heney said “this turn of events is worrying.  The delay in finalising the site for the children’s hospital is already a matter of concern.  With a number of new possible sites being suggested, I sincerely hope this Government won’t move the proposed children’s hospital to the south side.”