THE HOSPITAL co-location programme will continue as planned, and will not under any circumstances be underwritten by the Government, Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday.
Ms Harney underlined her confidence in the policy when speaking at the opening of a state-of-the-art new consulting clinic in Mullingar.
"I believe co-location will happen. The projects identified so far are in the process of getting planning permission. One of them is ready for planning approval, and a number of others have been referred to An Bord Pleanála. The developers of the facilities have to negotiate with their financial advisers, but there is no question of the Government carrying any of the risk here.
"This is a private initiative to free up public beds, and I believe it is a success, and that it will go ahead. There has been a huge interest in the sites selected - Beaumont, Tallaght and James's in Dublin, as well as others in Waterford, Limerick and Cork.
"Clearly many beds are ring-fenced for private patients, and this is simply not satisfactory. These beds are being provided by taxpayers and there shouldn't be any preferential access."
When pressed on reports that the Government may underwrite projects on a case-by-case basis, Ms Harney remained adamant that the whole aim of the co-location process is to provide additional public hospital capacity in a "cost-effective way".
Ballinderry Clinic in Mullingar - which was officially opened by the Minister yesterday - features 16 new consultancy suites which will cater to patients who might otherwise have had to travel to Dublin for medical attention. The €4 million facility is located on grounds formerly owned by St Francis's Private Hospital.