Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the decision by the HSE to take Hollybrook Lodge, the community nursing unit at Inchicore, under the operational management of St. James's Hospital. The move will free up lands for the new National Children’s Hospital in the process.

"Having met with the HSE and St James's Hospital, I have been informed that Hollybrook Lodge is to be brought under the management of St James's Hospital immediately. This will facilitate the relocation of Hospital 7, which currently accommodates a number of long term patients who would be in community nursing facilities were they available.

"The relocation of Hospital 7 means that the HSE can demolish existing patient care facilities to allow for the provision of a brown field site for the new Children's Hospital. This ensures that the Children's Hospital, which is so badly needed, will be delivered sooner than would otherwise have been the case."

(CD/MH)