Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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629. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the transfer of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to St. Vincent’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23287/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) project is inherently complex as we are relocating one voluntary hospital to the campus of another voluntary hospital, and into a hospital building owned by the State. A legal framework is being developed to protect the State's investment in the new NMH and to ensure that the hospital remains in State ownership. This legal framework will also provide assurances that the new hospital will be operated without religious or other distinction. The new hospital will be built on a site leased from the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG). The State will provide an Operating Licence to the NMH DAC and the SVHG to facilitate the provision of health services in the new building.

While the development of the legal framework has proved to be more difficult and more protracted than originally anticipated, I understand that there has been good engagement in recent weeks between my officials and the key stakeholders involved, namely the HSE, the NMH, and SVHG, and the drafting of the key documents is progressing well. It should be noted that, once finalised, the legal framework will be brought to Government for approval.

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.