Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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199. To ask the Minister for Health if the proposed changes to the governance of the national maternity hospital will require an Act of the Houses of the Oireachtas to amend or repeal the 1936 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21282/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the composition of the board of the new national maternity hospital to be built on land owned by a religious order (details supplied); the way in which he will ensure that the hospital will be owned by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21321/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Health if a religious order (details supplied) was requested to gift the land for the new national maternity hospital to the State; the reason he will not initiate a compulsory purchase order or otherwise to acquire the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21322/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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209. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the details of the proposed breakdown of public and private rooms in the new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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210. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the details of the provision of private consulting rooms in the new national maternity hospital; the cost to consultants of private consulting rooms per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21356/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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211. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm media reports that facilities would be provided in the new national maternity hospital for a not-for-profit firm (details supplied); the services this firm will provide; when he was informed of this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21358/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 202, 203 and 209 to 211, inclusive, together.

Following extensive mediation discussions, agreement was reached late last year between the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on the relocation of the NMH to the Elm Park campus. The terms of the agreement, which has now been published, provides for the establishment of a new company - "The National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC (limited by shares)”.

The new company will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services. This independence will be assured by the reserved powers which are set out in the agreement and will be copper fastened by the golden share which will be held by the Minister for Health of the day. These reserved powers can only be amended with the unanimous written approval of the Directors and with the approval of the Minister for Health. The Board of the new NMH will comprise nine directors; four nominated by St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, four by NMH, including the Master, and one will be an international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology. Two of the NMH Directors will also sit on the St. Vincent’s Board.

The agreement ensures that a full range of health services will be available at the NMH at Elm Park without religious, ethnic or other distinction. In that regard, I welcome the confirmation by the Board of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group that any medical procedure, which is in accordance with the laws of this State, will be carried out at the new hospital. I should also acknowledge that the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group is making valuable land available, at no cost to the State, to facilitate the new NMH. In doing so, they have foregone the opportunity to put this land to alternative use. The site was, at the time when the relocation was recommended in the 2008 KPMG report, 'Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin Area', and still is, in private ownership and was not on the market. The question of the purchase of the site did not therefore arise.

As set out in the agreement, the establishment of the new company will necessitate an amendment of the NMH Charter. However as we are still in the very early stages, my Department has not yet been in communication with the NMH in relation to this issue.

Now that the planning application for the development has been submitted we must now turn our focus to the legal mechanisms necessary to complete the project. The hospital will be publicly funded, built on lands in the ownership of the St. Vincent’s and operated by the new company. Over the next few weeks I will meet with both hospitals and will consider further the legal mechanisms necessary to absolutely protect the State's considerable investment in the hospital, including the issue of ownership of the new facility. I have indicated that, prior to the HSE entering into any construction contract, I will formally sanction the necessary arrangements to ensure that the facilities are legally secured on an on-going basis for the delivery of publicly funded maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services commitments. I should add that over the years we have made very significant capital investment in voluntary hospitals, and such facilities have always continued to be used for the delivery of publicly funded healthcare as intended.

I intend to report to Government on this project at the end of May. At that stage I expect to have further details on the legal and other arrangements envisaged and will make this information available publicly. This will allow for the necessary clarity well in advance of contractual or other commitments being entered into in respect of this project.

With regard to the designs for the new hospital, there is no differentiation between public and private in-patient rooms and indeed all in-patient rooms are of a similar design. In order to support the current commitment in the Consultants' contracts, some private outpatient consulting space will be provided. The charge to consultants for the use of those rooms is an operational matter and will be determined in due course. While there is no provision for the facility referred to by the Deputy in the design of the new maternity hospital, there is provision in the design for an assisted conception area within the development.

Finally, I would like reaffirm my commitment to this hugely important project. The facilities at Holles St are no longer fit for purpose. It is also acknowledged that for optimal clinical outcomes, maternity services should be co-located with adult acute services. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver the new National Maternity Hospital which is so badly needed to provide women and infants with modern healthcare facilities.