Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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119. To ask the Minister for Health the details of his latest efforts to progress the issue of the need for the new national maternity hospital to be in State ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37587/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health the current and expected position in regard to the proposed location of the new national maternity hospital; the extent to which all issues of concern have been addressed and resolved to date; if any further matters are outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37597/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 171 together.

The Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus at Elm Park, as set out in the Programme for Government. Significant progress has been made on the capital project, with planning permission for the hospital secured in 2017 and, in 2018, the awarding of the contract for substantial enabling works.

However, the ownership and governance arrangements are more complex. The proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new NMH at Elm Park were set out in the Mulvey Agreement, which was finalised in 2016 following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, published thereafter and noted by Government in 2017. The Mulvey Agreement provides 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 draft legal framework that has been developed is designed to copper fasten these arrangements.

I have been very clear that I will not bring anything to Government unless it provides assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new NMH. In addition, the safeguarding of the State’s investment must also be affirmed beyond doubt.

In that context, and as I have previously stated, there will be further engagement with all stakeholders in relation to this project, as we move toward the finalisation of the legal arrangements. However, I will not be making any further comment on the nature of this engagement until it concludes.