Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the advantages to patient care by giving public hospital property to developers to build private hospitals rather than letting the developers source their own greenfield sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21254/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the terms of references for interested parties in relation to the tendering process regarding the profit hospitals on public hospital grounds; the stages all tendering process are at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21329/06]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the plan to put private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals is still Government policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21253/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take QuestionsNos. 39, 57 and 75 together.

This Government is committed to exploring fully the scope for the private sector to provide additional capacity in the health system. In this context, my Department issued a policy direction to the Health Services Executive (HSE) last July which is aimed at freeing up 1,000 additional beds in public hospitals for public patients. This will be achieved through the development of private hospitals on the sites of public hospitals and the transfer of private activity to those hospitals thereby freeing up capacity for public patients in public hospitals.

Apart from providing up to 1,000 additional beds for public patients over the next five years, the initiative will also have the following benefits:—

·encouraging the participation of the private sector in generating extra capacity;

·maximising the potential use of public hospital sites;

·promoting efficiency among public and private acute service providers;

·promoting greater competition in the supply of hospital services; and

·offering improved quality and choice to all patients.

The HSE recently advertised for expressions of interest for the construction and operation of private hospitals on the sites of 11 publicly funded hospitals. Proposals will be subject to detailed evaluation which will have regard to a detailed assessment of need, and existing and planned capacity on a particular site and within the relevant region. It will also provide for a rigorous value for money assessment of any proposal and will take account of the value of the public site and the cost of any tax expenditure. Any transaction will be done on a commercial basis and will fully protect the public interest. In addition, there will be full adherence to public procurement law and best practice.