Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are proposals to transfer land at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, to a private developer, or otherwise to make land available to a private developer for the purposes of developing a private hospital in the grounds of Connolly Hospital; the meetings which took place between her Department, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Finance to discuss or explore such private hospital proposals; when and the locations where such meetings took place; the people who were present at each meeting and if she herself attended; the outcome of discussions and meetings in respect of the private hospital proposal; if a full cost benefit has been prepared including the cost of tax expenditures; the estimated cost of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7458/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In July 2005, I made a policy direction to the board of the Health Service Executive in regard to private hospital developments that would free up new public beds. Attached to the policy direction was an assessment framework which the Health Services Executive, HSE, has been requested to follow in relation 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 which 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.

Any private development at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, which is owned by the HSE, would have to adhere to the above policy direction. I answered a question from the Deputy on 12 October last on meetings I had attended on this matter. I have not attended any further meetings on this subject since then and there have been no meetings between the two Departments and the HSE on it.