Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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159. To ask the Minister for Health the progress on his commitment in December 2018 to produce the legal documents which are to give effect to the agreement reached with St. Vincent's Healthcare Group which he stated would protect the investment of the State and guarantee clinical and operational independence for the national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/19]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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160. To ask the Minister for Health the timescale to which he is working for the provision of a new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24785/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.

My Department continues to engage with St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and the National Maternity Hospital to develop a legal framework to protect the State’s significant investment in the new hospital.  St Vincent’s Healthcare Group has agreed in principle to provide the State with a 99-year lease of the land upon which the new maternity hospital will be built, and this will allow the State to retain ownership of the new facility. It is important that the legal framework is agreed before the project advances to the tendering stage.

As the HSE is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly regarding your queries in relation to the timescale for the project.