Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1229. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the approval of transfer for the shareholding of St. Vincent’s Hospital Group to a charity (details supplied) was made with the proviso that certain canon laws are to be observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20286/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1230. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no provision for a public interest director, ministerial representative, a women’s interest director or a representation from the National Maternity Hospital itself on the board of a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20287/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1231. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the board of a charity (details supplied) will be a self-selecting and self-perpetuating board; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the State has no control over the ownership or governance of the charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20288/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1233. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the clinical governance of the proposed national maternity hospital is planned to be fully integrated into St. Vincent’s Hospital Group, meaning the hospital will not be co-located as was originally reported nor will it have its own governance or budgetary independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20290/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1234. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the people of Ireland, that will fund the new national maternity hospital, deserve absolute clarity regarding the ownership and governance of a charity (details supplied) before the State-funded new national maternity hospital is handed into its ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20291/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1229, 1230, 1231, 1233 and 1234 together.

The Deputy has raised a number of queries in relation to St Vincent’s Holdings CLG, many of which are outside the remit of the Minister for Health; however, I have endeavoured to provide as much information as possible, in order to provide assurance regarding the new maternity hospital on the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus.

St Vincent’s Holdings CLGwill be established under the Companies Act as a not for profit company; it will be a company with charitable status and will be governed by Irish company law. The constitution of St. Vincent’s Holdings CLGhas been approved by the Charities Regulator and has been published on the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) website at; www.stvincents.ie/constitutions-svh-clg-and-svhg/. The Constitution makes no reference to Canon Law, and I am advised that Canon Law will not impact on the Company.

A legal framework is being developed to protect the State's investment in the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) and to ensure that the hospital remains in State ownership. The legal framework, when finalised, will be brought to Government for approval.

As the Deputy will be aware, the corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new NMH at Elm Park are encompassed in the Mulvey Agreement, which was finalised following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and the SVHG. The Mulvey Agreementprovides for the establishment of a new company - National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC- which will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary independence in the provision of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services. The Agreement ensures that a full range of health services will be available at the new hospital without religious, ethnic or other distinction.

I would like to emphasise that the Mulvey Agreementrepresents an accommodation of the views of the two voluntary hospitals, together with consideration of key policy objectives, including clinical independence, no religious influences to be brought to bear on the new hospital and assurance that the State's investment will be protected. The Deputy can be assured that these overriding objectives will be copperfastened through the legal framework.

In line with the Mulvey Agreement, the Board of the NMH at Elm Park DACwill comprise 9 directors; 4 nominated by SVHG, 4 by NMH, and 1 will be an international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology. Given the level of State investment, the previous Minister for Health sought, and received, the agreement of both the NMH and SVHG that the Board of the new NMH DAC will be competency-based and will include a Public Interest representative.

With regard to the composition of the Board of St Vincent’s Holdings CLG, information published on the SVHG website indicates that this Board will comprise independent directors who will be appointed based on their competencies and skills. This information can be accessed @: www.stvincents.ie/app/uploads/2020/05/ST.VINCENTS-HOLDINGS-CLG-Information-Sheet-14.05.2020.

Finally, I am very conscious that the buildings at Holles Street are no longer fit for purpose. I believe that we must move forward with the new NMH and provide the necessary infrastructure to enable the delivery of a modern, safe quality maternity service for women and infants. I have therefore, asked my officials to redouble their efforts, with a view to concluding discussions on the legal framework as quickly as possible.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1232. To ask the Minister for Health the estimate for the cost of construction of the new national maternity hospital on the site of St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20289/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The site preparatory works in connection with the relocation of the new National Maternity Hospital to the St. Vincent’s University Hospital campus consists of Aspergillus prevention works, campus infrastructural upgrade works, enabling works / site preparation works, and the construction of a new Pharmacy and multi storey car-park. The preparatory works commenced on the campus in early 2016 with the Aspergillus prevention works, and are due for completion early 2021 with the conclusion of the new pharmacy and the multi-storey car-park. The budget for these works is €46.6m, of which €31.2m has been expended to date.

With the exception of the construction works which are contractually committed as listed above, no further contractual commitments have been entered into with respect to works to the new National Maternity Hospital project.

It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established. The final decision to proceed with the construction of a project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.