Disputed National Maternity Hospital site may be leased by State

The Government is considering a long-term lease, with a nominal rent, for the site of the proposed new National Maternity Hospital.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said a review of the ownership structures in the health sector, expected to include the role of the Church, is now to be undertaken.

This comes after the news that the Sisters of Charity order of nuns was to be granted ownership of the €300m taxpayer-funded hospital, because the order owns the St Vincent’s Hospital campus on which it is to be built.