Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1155. To ask the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) will retain the legal right to mortgage any or all parts of the publicly funded National Maternity Hospital under the current ownership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32436/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1156. To ask the Minister for Health if, in view of Covid-19 and the grave need it has shown to retain public ownership of the health service, consideration will be given to ensuring the full public ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital by moving the site to Elm Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32437/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155 and 1156 together.

As the Deputy is aware the new maternity hospital will be built on a site leased from the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG), and the State will provide an Operating Licence to the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) DAC and the SVHG to facilitate the provision of health services in the new building.

A legal framework is currently being developed to protect the State's investment in the new NMH and this will ensure that the hospital remains in State ownership. I can assure the Deputy that St Vincent's Holdings CLG will not retain the legal right to mortgage any, or all, parts of the NMH.