Vol. 454 No. 6
100 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the correspondence, if any, he has received from a company (details supplied) in the United States of America; if he has responded to the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11145/95]
Limerick East): I understand the company has an interest in the purchase of the private hospital at Ely in Wexford for use as a private facility. The Order of St. John of God indicated that it was willing to sell the property to the South Eastern Health Board. The board and the Department of Health were anxious to ensure this provided value for money, as opposed to building on a green field site and it was necessary to have the site surveyed and valued. It is also necessary to make provision for the transfer of the acute hospital service from Ely to Wexford General Hospital where some building work will be required.
As soon as the Department of Health was satisfied the building was fully suitable for the purposes intended and that the purchase price of £1.5 million represented good value for money the Department of Health authorised the health board to negotiate the purchase of the hospital at Ely from the Order at a cost of up to £1.5 million.
