Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the projected cost of the plan to allow private hospitals to be built on public hospital sites. [38462/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the projected cost of the plan to allow private hospitals to be built on public hospital sites. [38463/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 142 together.

The Government is committed to exploring fully the scope for the private sector to provide additional capacity in the health system. The key objective is to provide the required extra capacity, whether this is in the public or private sector.

In July this year, my Department issued a policy direction to the Health Service Executive, HSE, aimed at freeing up additional beds for public patients in public hospitals through the development of private hospital facilities on public hospital sites. The initiative will provide up to 1,000 additional beds for public patients over the next five years. Private developers will be responsible for the construction of the private hospitals and public capital funding will not be provided. Public capital investment will continue to be directed towards public hospitals.

Attached to the policy direction was an assessment framework which the HSE has been requested to follow in regard to proposals to locate private hospital facilities on public hospital sites. It requires that the evaluation should have regard to a detailed assessment of need, and existing and planned capacity on a particular site and within the relevant region. It should also provide for a rigorous value-for-money assessment of any proposal that would take account of the value of the public site and the cost of any capital allowances. In addition, it makes clear the need for adherence to public procurement law and best practice.