Our Ref: 29N.

PA0043
P.A.Reg.Ref:

An Bord Pleanala

Your Ref:

Christine & David Harmes

28 Luttrellstown Walk
Castleknock
Dublin 15
2nd October 2015
Re: Health Infrastructure Development comprising National Paediatric
Hospital, Innovation Centre and Family Accommodation Unit at St
James' Hospital Campus, Satellite Centres at Tallaght & Connolly
Hospitals and Construction Compound at Davitt Road, Dublin.
Dear Sir/Madam,
An Bord 'Pleanala has received your recent submission in relation to the above mentioned proposeddevelopment and will
take it into consideration in its detennination of the matter. A receipt for the fee lodged is enclosed.

The Board will revert to you in due course with regard to the matter.
Please be advised that copies of all submissions I observations received in relation to the application will be made
available for public inspection at the offices of Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County
Council and at the offices of An Bord Pleanala when they have been processed by the Board.
If you have any queries in the meantime please contact the undersigned officer of the Board. Please quote the above
mentioned An Bord Pleamila reference number in any correspondence or telephone contact with the Board.

Yours faithfully,

Encls.
ADHOC/PA0043/0 1

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Our Ref: 29N.PA0043

P.A.Reg.Rcf:
Your Ref:

Paul O'Neill
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board
C/0 G.V.A. Planning & Regeneration
Floor 2, Seagrave House
19-20 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
30th September 2015
Re: Health Infrastructure Development comprising National Paediatric

Hospital. Innovation Centre and Family Accommodation Unit at St

James' Hospital Campus, Satellite Centres at Tallaght & Connolly
Hospitals and Construction Compound at Davitt Road, Dublin.
Dear Sir,
Enclosed for your information is a copy of submission(s) received by the Board in relation to the above mentioned
proposed development.

If you have any queries in relation to the matter please contact the undersigned officer of the Board.
Please quote the above mentioned An Bord Pleanala reference number in any correspondence or telephone contact with
the Board.
Yours faithfully,

Encls.
PAOS.LTR

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An Bord Pleanala

Our Ref: 29N.PA0043

P.A.Reg.Rcf:

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Your Ref:

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Chief Executive Officer

Dublin City Council
Civic Offices
Wood Quay
Dublin 8
30th September 2015

Re: Health Infrastructure Development comprising National Paediatric

Hospital, Innovation Centre and Family Accommodation Unit at St
James' Hospital Campus, Satellite Centres at Tallaght & Connolly
Hospitals and Construction Compound at Davitt Road, Dublin.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enclosed for your information are two copies of submission(s)received by the Board in relation to the above-mentioned
proposed development.
Please ensure that a copy of this/each submission is available for public inspection at the offices of the planning
authority.

If you have any queries in relation to this matter please contact the undersigned officer of the Board.
Please quote the above mentioned Ail Bord Pleamila reference number in any correspondence or telephone contact with
the Board.
Yours faithfully,

ran Somers
utive Officer
Direct Line:O 1-8737107
Encls.
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An Borel Pleanala

Our Ref: 29N.PA0043

P.A.Reg.Ref:
Your Ref:

Chief Executive Officer

Fingal County Council
County Hall
Main Street
Swords
County Dublin
30th September 2015

Re: Health Infrastructure Development comprising National Paediatric

Hospital, Innovation Centre and Family Accommodation Unit at St
James' Hospital Campus, Satellite Centres at Tallaght & Connolly
Hospitals and Construction Compound at Davitt Road, Dublin.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enclosed for your information are two copies of submission(s)received by the Board in relation to the above-mentioned
proposed development.
Please ensure that a copy of this/each submission is available for public inspection at the offices of the planning
authority.
If you have any queries in relation to this matter please contact the undersigned officer of the Board.
Please quote the above mentioned An Bord Pleamila reference number in any correspondence or telephone contact with
the Board.
Yours faithfully,

ran Somers
utive Officer
Duect Line:01-8737107
Encls.
PA07.LTR

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An Bard Pleanala

Our Ref: 29N.PA0043

P.A.Reg.Ref:
Your Ref:

Chief Executive Officer

South Dublin County Council
County Hall
Tallaght
Dublin 24
30th September 2015

Re: Health Infrastructure Development comprising National Paediatric

Hospital, Innovation Centre and Family Accommodation Unit at St
James' Hospital Campus, Satellite Centres at Tallaght & Connolly
Hospitals and Construction Compound at Davitt Road, Dublin.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enclosed for your information are two copies of submission(s) received by the Board in relation to the above-mentioned
proposed development.
Please ensure that a copy of this/each submission is available for public inspection at the offices of the planning
authority.
If you have any queries in relation to this matter please contact the undersigned officer of the Board.
Please quote the above mentioned An Bord Pleamila reference number in any correspondence or telephone contact with
the Board.
Yours faithfully,

Encls.

PA07.LTR

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An Bord Pleanala
64 Marlborough St
Dublin 1
Re:

The National Paediatric Hospital plmmn~~llwltkta:j~======J

St. James's Hospital

Case Reference:

PU9N.PA0043

Submission from:

Christine & David Harmes

Fee enclosed:

50

Address for Correspondence:

28 Luttrellstown Walk, Castleknock, Dublin 15

We are parents of a little boy, age 9, who has a life limiting illness and as such would be using this proposed
facility i.e. we will be the service users. We wish to make the following points regarding our concerns about
the proposed development of the National Paediatric Hospital (NPH) on the St. James's Hospital Campus in
Dublin 8.

A NATIONAL Hospital
This hospital will be the only hospital serving the seriously ill children from all over Ireland, 75% of
whom live outside the MSO. It also will serve the secondary care needs of children in the Greater
Dublin Area, of whom more than half live outside the M50.
Access
Almost all (around 90%) children are brought to hospital by car. We believe that the site at the James
Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown offers better access for children travelling by car.
lying just off the M50/N3 exit it is not in a traffic-clogged metropolis. We know that even now, it can
take 45 mins to exit the St James's site at rush-hour. The approach roads are single lane and
congested. If a parent is attempting to access the hospital with a child with life-threatening symptoms
such as meningococcal meningitis, then a delay of even 10 mins can put the child's life at risk.
Parking
In July 2015 a national newspaper carried an article urging staff to use public transport to get to work
at StJames's. We know that it is the policy of Dublin City Council to discourage cars in the city and
that no extra parking will be provided on the St James's Campus over the coming years. The logical
solution is - don't force families with sick children to have to come into the city by having the hospital
there.
Helicopter Access
'f.he recent establishment of a permanent Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service is a most
welcome development in Ireland. EAS is now an essential part of the pre-hospital emergency
rPsponse. It has offered seriously ill and injured people living in remote areas timely access to high
quality critical care. As recommended by an expert group, all future acute hospital developments
must include provision for a ground helipad. The helipad in the proposed NPH is located on the roof

Page 1 of 2

of the 4th floor and can't accommodate a coast guard helicopter. No space for helicopter access at
ground level will result in the hospital failing in its duty of care to seriously ill children.
Space
StJames's campus is a long narrow campus of 49 acres, 10 of which are owned on leasehold by Trinity
College. It is difficult to see how a large adult hospital, a large children's hospital and a full maternity
hospital can be squeezed into the remaining space and leave room for the future expansion which all
these hospitals inevitably will need. It seems crazy that this can be considered the best site for a newbuild 215t century children's hospital.
Maternity
The children's doctors keep telling us that it is much more important for a children's hospital to be colocated with a maternity hospital than with an adult hospital, so that our sick new born children can
get immediate attention when they need it. There is no obvious space on the StJames's site for a
maternity hospital and planning permission for a maternity hospital has not been sought. An Bard
Pleanala should not give planning permission for a children's hospital ahead of planning being granted
for a maternity hospital. To do so will compromise the care of Ireland's newborn babies who after all
are meant to have the same rights as adult citizens.
Environment
Nature is required for healing. Everyone needs access to outdoor space, including sick children, their
parents and brothers, sisters, friends and family pets who visit. It seems very short-sighted that a site
with no ground-level green space is being promoted as the best available site.
The Connolly site, Blanchardstown
A NATIONAL hospital
Good access
Unlimited parking
Ground helipad
Significant expansion space (it is 145 acres)
Rotunda hospital scheduled to re-locate there
Superb parkland environment
Low planning risk
Better, Cheaper, Quicker to build at Connolly

Signed

4!!d

Christine Harmes

David Harmes

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