Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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2406. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the draft legal framework for the proposed new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37746/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, a draft legal framework has been developed which aims to address the ownership and governance arrangements at the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH). In that context, as previously stated, there has been further engagement with the stakeholders in relation to these matters. As the legal framework is still draft, it is not intended to provide or publish it, in the interest of ensuring the necessary space to facilitate engagement with the relevant stakeholders. As I have previously made clear, I will not be making any further comment on the nature of this engagement until it concludes.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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2407. To ask the Minister for Health if the business case for the relocation of the national maternity hospital, which was received by his Department from the NMH Project Board in December 2020, has been approved to date; if so, if he will provide a copy of the approved business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37747/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A business case for the national maternity hospital (NMH) relocation project was submitted to the Department of Health by the NMH Project Board in December 2020. This provided a comprehensive overview of the proposed project. However, as a project initiated prior to the updated Public Spending Code (PSC), the Project Board is undertaking additional work to ensure full compliance with the new PSC.

The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.

The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC, and the stages at which these are to be published, are detailed at www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/

The updated business case will be re-submitted to the Department of Health, as Approving Authority, and to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for technical review in due course.