But campaigners have expressed concern it could mean another service moves away from the hospital in Newry.
Kimmins, an assembly member for the Newry and Armagh constituency, said it could lead to women travelling “very long distances to access maternity care”.
“The infrastructure to enable them to do that quickly simply isn’t there,” she told the infrastructure committee on Wednesday.
The Sinn Féin minister referenced several road schemes including the A1 upgrade, and the Ballynahinch and Cookstown bypasses.
“In terms of decisions that are taken around moving services and all, infrastructure is key to that,” she added.
“And if that’s not there, and we know that road schemes and new roads etc take a long time, that has to come first before other things can happen.
“So I don’t want to veer into my colleague in the Department of Health’s remit but that has to work hand-in-hand across government.”