Minister says co-location progressing

Progress is being made on the development of the controversial co-located private hospitals on public hospital sites, according to Health Minister Mary Harney.

She told the Dail that project agreements for the co-located units at Beaumont, Cork University and Limerick Regional Hospitals will be signed very soon.

The Minister said it is anticipated that the signing of project agreements for co-located units at Waterford, Sligo and St James's Hospitals will be concluded shortly after these.

Connolly Hospital and Tallaght Hospital, are at an earlier stage of the procurement process.

The Minister, in a written Dail reply, said a tender in relation to Connolly Hospital in Dublin is under consideration and an invitation to tender for the Tallaght Hospital co-location project will issue in the near future.

She told the Dail she was satisfied that the Government has a clear democratic mandate for the co-location initiative.

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Great to see partnerships between government and private enterprise. I know some people will get rich out of this but the facilities will be available 10 times faster than if left entirely to government.