Fifteen of the State’s 19 Maternity Units are operating in sub-standard conditions, according to a report published by the Health and Information Authority (Hiqa) yesterday.

The report also found that the ten year National Maternity Strategy was grossly underfunded.

Róisín Molloy, whose newborn son Mark died in 2012 as a result of failings in Portlaoise hospital, said babies would continue to die unless a new government properly funds the strategy.

It was previously reported by the Irish Times that monies ringfenced for it were diverted to pay for the State’s new abortion regime.

Spokesperson for the Pro Life Campaign, Eilís Mulroy, said that the Hiqa findings have exposed an appalling legacy of ministerial and government neglect.

“It is an absolute scandal that abortion which has nothing to do with genuine healthcare was prioritised over safeguarding the lives of pregnant women and their babies,” she said.

“We need to re-focus on delivering the best care possible for mothers and babies and to avoid the ongoing rush to prioritise abortion funding to the clear detriment of mothers, babies and staff,” concluded Ms Mulroy.