Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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3191. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost and timeline of the State using a compulsory purchase order to acquire the land owned by a group (details supplied) at the location the new national maternity hospital is planned to be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40672/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. The draft legal framework provides for the new hospital to be built on a site leased by the State from the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) for a period of 99 years, with the potential to extend for a further 50 years. The framework also provides for an Operating Licence to be issued by the HSE to NMH at Elm Park DAC and SVHG to facilitate the provision of health services in the new building.

I have been very clear that I will not bring any proposal 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, there has been further engagement with the stakeholders in relation to these matters. However, as previously stated, I will not be making any further comment on the nature of this engagement until it concludes.

With regard to the use of a compulsory purchase order (CPO), it can be noted that undertaking a CPO on any State project is likely to entail significant costs, including both compensation and legal costs, particularly should a legal challenge arise, and in terms of any risk of delay to the project in question.