Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the contracts that have been signed for co-located private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals; if she is satisfied that her co-location programme should be advanced without a democratic mandate and with less than enthusiastic support from health workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2730/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am satisfied that this Government has a clear democratic mandate for the co location initiative. The co-location initiative aims to make available approximately 1,000 public acute hospital beds for public patients, beds that are currently being used by private patients.

In accordance with the competitive dialogue procurement process which is being used, the Board of the HSE approved in July last successful bidder status for the development of co located hospitals at the following six hospitals:

Waterford Regional Hospital

Cork University Hospital

Limerick Regional Hospital

Sligo Regional Hospital

Beaumont Hospital

St James's Hospital

Since then the hospitals and the bidders have been working towards finalising the Project Agreements.

It is expected that the Project Agreements for Beaumont, Cork and Limerick Hospitals will be signed very soon. It is also anticipated that the signing of the Project Agreements for the other three sites will be concluded shortly thereafter.

Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital, which are also participating in the co location initiative, are at an earlier stage of the procurement process. A tender in relation to Connolly Hospital is under consideration and it is expected that the invitation to tender (ITT) for Tallaght Hospital will issue in the near future.