Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
687. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the date on which St. Vincent's Healthcare Group sought an operating licence from his Department for the proposed maternity hospital; if this licence is a condition of the lease on offer to Government of the land on which the new facility is to be built; if he will now publish both the lease and the licence; and, if not, the reason therefor. [54763/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements for the new National Maternity Hospital were set out in the Mulvey Agreement, which was finalised in 2016 following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG). 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 copperfasten these arrangements and to ensure protection of the State’s investment. Under the draft legal framework the new hospital will be built on a site leased by the State from SVHG. The draft 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.
Work is ongoing to finalise the legal arrangements. However, as I have clarified previously, I will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter until this process has concluded.
