A new poll has indicated that 73% of the Irish population believe that St James’s Hospital is the wrong location for the new children’s hospital.
The Newstalk / Red C Poll* found that only 20% of people surveyed agree with the inner city site.
In early May, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the hospital, which will see the bringing together of all children’s hospitals currently operating in Ireland under one roof on a campus shared with St. James’s Hospital in Dublin city.
The study also examined whether the public feel Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, or another location, would have been a better option.
36% of those surveyed said that the St. James's site was incorrect but were unsure what would have been a better choice, while a similar proportion (37%) believe that Connolly Hospital would have been a better location.
Image: Newstalk / Red C Poll
Age
Age is a dividing factor among those surveyed.
The feeling of dissatisfaction with the chosen location is more pronounced among those aged 35-44. 80% of that demographic responded that St. James's Hospital is the incorrect site.
Those in the 18-24 category were less likely to feel this way, with 34% claiming the inner city location is the best choice.
Location
The number of people who believe St. James's Hospital is the best option is significantly higher among those living in Dublin at 27%, however over 70% still believe the incorrect site was chosen.
The majority in all regions also believe St. James's is the wrong site, with those living in Leinster - excluding Dublin - claiming to be least content with the choice.
73% of people from both the Connacht/Ulster region and Munster do not think the chosen site if the best location.
Gender
There is no major gender divide among the answers. 1 in 5 females say they are happy with the St. James's Hospital site along with 21% of males.
There is a slight difference when it comes to those who think it is the incorrect choice with 71% of females disagreeing with the chosen site, in comparison to 75% of men surveyed.
*RED C interviewed a random representative sample of 1,015 adults aged 18+ by phone between the 6th and 8th of June. A random digit dial (RDD) method of mobile and landline numbers was utilized in order to ensure a random selection of households to be included – this ensures all adults were eligible for selection including mobile only households and ex-directory households. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results weighted to the profile of all adults.
