Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the indication she has from the developers of the proposed co-located hospitals that they will proceed in the present economic climate; the stage of planning in each of these hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6539/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress of her hospital co-location plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6692/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to co-location; the full extent of the facilities provided on such sites; if public facilities have been provided on private sites in conjunction with existing private facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6894/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 45 and 136 together.

The co-location initiative is a complex process but it is an efficient means of delivering extra bed capacity. Significant progress has been made in advancing the individual projects involved. The Board of the HSE has approved preferred bidder status for the development of co-located hospitals at Beaumont, Cork University, the Mid-Western Regional Limerick, St. James's, Waterford Regional and Sligo General Hospitals. Project Agreements for the Beaumont, Cork, Limerick and St James's projects have been signed.

Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála for the Beaumont project late last year. Planning permission for the Cork and Limerick projects has been granted by the local authorities concerned and appealed in each case to An Bord Pleanála. The preparatory work required to make the planning application for the St James's project is underway.

The necessary preparatory work for the Project Agreements in respect of Waterford Regional Hospital and Sligo General Hospital is proceeding. A tender in respect of Connolly Hospital has been received and is under consideration. Work is being undertaken to finalise the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Tallaght Hospital.

It is a matter for each successful bidder to arrange its finance under the terms of the relevant Project Agreement. It is certainly the case that the funding environment has changed significantly in the last number of months, and this has affected both the public and private sectors. The co-location initiative, like other major projects, has to deal with the new situation. The successful bidders are working on the details of contractual terms with banks and other arrangers of finance. The HSE is continuing to work with the successful bidders to provide whatever assistance it can to help them advance the projects.