Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital co-location projects currently in hand; the cost to date associated with such projects; the number of further projects pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1984/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Preferred bidders have been selected for six co-located hospital projects at Beaumont, Cork University, Limerick Regional, St. James's, Sligo and Waterford Regional Hospitals. Project agreements have been signed and planning permission has been granted for the first four of these projects.

The Connolly and Tallaght Hospital projects are at earlier stages of the procurement process. The co-location programme is a complex public procurement process. A core principle underlying the co-location initiative is that the private sector should bear all normal business risks. It is a matter for each successful bidder to arrange its finance under the terms of the relevant Project Agreement. The co-location initiative, like other major projects, has to deal with the changed funding environment. The HSE is continuing to work with the successful bidders to provide whatever assistance it can to help them advance the projects. There is a requirement on each of the successful bidders to pay a non-refundable deposit to the HSE on the signing of the project agreement. The intention of this requirement is to allow the HSE to recoup the expenses that it has incurred in this context.

My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the detailed operational information that he has sought.