TAOISEACH Brian Cowencalled for greater co-ordination between Dublin's children's hospitals when challenged about ward closures.

He said Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, and the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, should avoid duplication in the provision of out-of-hours services and other services.

“Such an approach would provide the services required while avoiding extra costs. Co-ordination of services across all three hospitals, in the interest of providing services for children in our straitened budgetary circumstances, is the way forward.’’

He was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said the Crumlin hospital would have to close a ward almost immediately, and another later this year, because of a €10 million overrun.

He added that when the HSE was set up it was purported to be a method of delivering a world-class health service for the State, funded by the Taoiseach, who was then minister for finance.

“Yet he has stood over a budgetary situation in which at the first sign of trouble in any hospital, when the cost base is examined, the answer is to close wards and not treat patients.This is a policy of lunacy.’’

Mr Kenny said the hospital did exceptional work, which was extremely sensitive and personal to potentially every family.

“We are four months into the year and a ward is being closed, with another to be closed later in the year, because of a €10 million overrun. This was announced on the same day as the now absent Minister for the Environment announced a toothless mayoralty for Dublin.’’

Mr Cowen said the annual service plan for hospitals must be adhered to in the interest of budgetary sustainability and in order to provide services in all hospitals. The Crumlin hospital was allocated just under €140 million for this year, which was an increase of more than €38 million, or 39 per cent, since 2004.