Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of sites on the grounds of public hospitals that she has identified for the construction of private hospitals; the estimated market value of the sites; the financial terms under which the sites will be disposed of to the private sector; the bed capacity of the proposed private sector development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29635/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the status of the co-location project. [30787/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the costs incurred to date in the roll-out of the private hospital co-location scheme. [30862/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the stage of development at each of the hospital sites designated for the private hospital co-location scheme; and the projected number of beds to be provided in the private hospitals at each site. [30863/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 565, 575 and 576 together.

In July 2005 I issued a policy direction to the Health Service Executive aimed at freeing up 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 releasing substantial capacity for public patients in public hospitals. The initiative is expected to provide up to 1,000 additional beds for public patients over five years.

Co-location is the quickest and least expensive means of providing significant additional bed capacity for public patients. No capital outlay is required as the beds in the public hospitals are already in place, having been funded by the Exchequer. A further very important benefit is that the additional beds made available for public patients in public hospitals will come fully staffed (in contrast to the usual position where direct capital investment is used to fund public hospital capital developments).

The Board of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has approved preferred bidder status for the development of co-located hospitals at the following six sites: Beaumont Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Limerick Regional Hospital, St. James's Hospital, Waterford Regional Hospital and Sligo General Hospital. Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital, which are also participating in the co-location initiative, are at an earlier stage of the procurement process.

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.

As under the Health Act 2004 the Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the implementation of the policy direction which I have issued, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to furnish the Deputy with the specific information requested.