I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 130 and 157 together.
The Health Services Executive is currently undertaking a procurement exercise to select consortia to build and operate private hospitals on 10 public hospital sites utilising the competitive dialogue tendering process. Invitations to participate in dialogue issued to pre-qualified bidders in mid September 2006 with a deadline to submit outline proposals by 19th October 2006. The HSE has evaluated the outline proposals that it received and has recently completed the selection of short-listed bidders who will be invited to continue in the competitive dialogue phase. Some of the bidders withdrew from the procurement process for commercial reasons.
I was informed by the HSE yesterday that the co location initiative will not be proceeding on two public hospital sites at this time. The sites in question are Galway University Hospitals and Letterkenny General Hospital.
The key objective of the competitive dialogue phase is to explore different options for meeting the core requirements identified by the HSE in respect of each remaining site. The preferred bidders will then be invited to tender to build and operate private hospitals in accordance with the specifications determined by the HSE. The assessment of each proposal will involve a vigorous and comprehensive value for money assessment. The HSE envisages that the award of contracts will be made in the first quarter of 2007.
The HSE is working towards having consultants providing services as part of a team and hospitals operating as part of a network within a region. This is primarily aimed at improving patient care but it will also avoid the emergence of the type of problems envisaged by the Deputy.