David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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374. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has signed the agreements with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital; if not, the expected timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on 17 May last, the Government approved the legal framework that will underpin the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the St Vincent’s campus at Elm Park.

In terms of next steps in relation to the legal framework documents, the Co-ordination Agreement between the three signatories – the HSE, the NMH and St Vincent's Healthcare Group - sets out the practical arrangements for finalisation of the documents. I understand that the HSE will be engaging with the NMH and SVHG with a view to completing the signing and execution of this document within the next month or so. The remaining legal framework documents will subsequently be signed at the relevant time as the project progresses. 

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the detail of next steps, as soon as possible. 

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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375. To ask the Minister for Health if the National Maternity Hospital Board of Governors has approved the agreements to facilitate the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to another campus (details supplied) and the creation of the NMH at a location; if not, the expected timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on 17 May last, the Government approved the legal framework that will underpin the relocation of the NMH to the St Vincent’s campus at Elm Park. In approving the legal framework, the Cabinet was satisfied that the framework achieves the State’s objectives and:

- Ensures that all legally permissible services will be available in the new NMH

- Prevents any influence, religious or otherwise, on the operation of the new hospital

- Safeguards the State’s significant investment in the hospital.

The legal framework had previously been approved by the HSE Board, the Board of the NMH and the Board of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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376. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the final business case for the new National Maternity Hospital; the expected timeframe for completion; when he expects the next stage to begin; the expected timeframe for the project to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28610/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Spending Code (PSC) is designed to ensure that capital 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 PSC also provides detail on the business case requirements at each stage of the new project lifecycle.

All capital development proposals must progress through several approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated PSC, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.

The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) relocation project was initiated prior to the publication of the updated PSC, and therefore the NMH Project Board undertook additional work on the business case to ensure full compliance with the new PSC requirements.

A Final business case for relocation of NMH has been submitted to the Department by the NMH Project Board for review at Gate 2 of the PSC. The Business Case is now subject to technical review by the Department of Health, including through the External Assurance Process recently introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Pending favourable review under the Spending Code, a Memorandum for Government will then be brought forward to progress the programme for the NMH. If approval in principle is granted by Government, the project can move to deployment of a tendering strategy.

In the interim, I have asked the Project Board to identify opportunities to accelerate or parallel certain activities related to the development of the project that can be undertaken without presupposing the outcome of the Government decision on the pre-tender final business case. The Project Board will take steps to ensure that it can act quickly to progress the project through the next stages, should approval in principle be granted.

Based on the results of public procurement process, an updated Final Business Case will then be prepared by the NMH Project Board, seeking Government sanction for to proceed with the main capital project to construct the new NMH.

The final decision to proceed with the construction and therefore to estimate the cost or key dates for the new NMH cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable.