David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the location of each of the sites that is planned to be made available to enable private hospitals to be built on public land as part of the co-location policy; the amount of land to be made available in each case; the market value of each of these sites; if the land in each case is to remain in the State's ownership; if not, the way the land will be transferred; if it is her intention to make the land available without charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4104/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 hospital sites:

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.

Under the Project Agreements agreed with the HSE, the land on which the Hospitals will be built by the successful bidders will be under a 65-year lease from the State at full market value. The intention is that no land will be sold to the successful bidders. This efficient utilization of public resources means that the State will receive an income for land over the 65 year period. The commercial value of each site has been determined by independent assessors. The provision of 1,000 beds will result in no direct capital costs to the Exchequer. Capital costs will be met by the successful bidders.