Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the Deputy's first question, I understand that 90% of the documentation to enable bidders to tender has gone out to the individuals. The formal quest for tender is on the HSE board's agenda for Friday week, 13 April. The formal bid for tender would not issue until after that meeting, so that is the formal position.

I agree with the Deputy that acute hospitals have their difficulties, in spite of the enormous amount of resources, staff, equipment and capital they have received. Part of the solution is to contract nursing home beds in the private and public sectors, and building step-down facilities, which is happening in parts of the country. In other areas, such facilities are required. I do not believe this initiative cuts across that. The aim of the initiative is to transfer private activity from within the public hospital system to new privately-financed and managed hospitals, thereby freeing up 1,000 additional beds for public patients. The new facilities will have to meet specific requirements, for example, the ability to admit private patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week from public hospitals, accident and emergency departments and GPs, with the capacity to treat all patients currently catered for in the public hospital system through joint clinical governance. I accept the Deputy's point that people have written to him about that, but they are not talking about what the HSE is proposing. The HSE has made its position absolutely clear on the accident and emergency departments, GP and 24-hour issues. People may have a point, but it is not what the HSE has said.

Obviously, the HSE will make its own decision at that board meeting but my understanding is that it has reduced the number. The executive is looking at the following hospitals: Limerick, Waterford, Cork, St. James's, Beaumont, Connolly — which is Blanchardstown — Tallaght and Sligo. There will be a rigorous financial assessment of the proposals, which are subject to planning, including the value of the public site and the cost of any tax expenditure foregone. As I said previously, the lease of public land will be on a commercial basis, it will fully protect the public interest and there will be full adherence to public procurement law and best practice. That is where the negotiations currently are and the next move will be on Friday week at the HSE board meeting.

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