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National Maternity Hospital

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Questions (562, 563)

Paul Murphy

Question:

562. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will require the business case for the design, construction and operation of the proposed new national maternity hospital at Elm Park to include design, construction and fit-out for the provision of full reproductive healthcare including contraception, surgical sterilisation, IVF and abortion; the specific design, construction and fit-out provision that will be installed for each of these services; and the installed bed and consultation capacity that will be provided for the specific delivery of each of these services. [33200/21]

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Paul Murphy

Question:

563. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will require the business case for the operation of the proposed new national maternity hospital at Elm Park to include specific estimates for section 38 funding of staff for the provision of contraception, surgical sterilisation, IVF and abortion services; and the estimated number of staff to be funded under section 38 for the specific provision of contraception, surgical sterilisation, IVF and abortion services. [33201/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 563 together.

The Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) as planned at the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus. A draft legal framework has been developed setting out the governance and ownership arrangements for the new hospital, which are designed to protect the State's investment in the new hospital and to provide assurance that all services legally permissible in the State will be made available there. I will not countenance any new maternity hospital where there is any risk that any services will be prohibited based on religious beliefs or ethical code.

In line with the Public Spending Code, a full business case is being prepared and is currently under review within the HSE. In essence, the purpose of the business case is to set out the demographic, clinical, social, and technology factors pertaining to the project as well as providing robust consideration of the options, costs, risks, and deliverability of the project to enable the Government to make an evidence-informed decision, which would enable the project to progress to the tendering stage.

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