Marie O'Connor: We need full public ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital

If the Government signs off on the current deal, the State will be left owning only the shell of the National Maternity Hospital, writes Marie O’Connor.

A model of the new National Maternity Hospital on the St Vincent's campus to mark the submission of the planning application for the new National Maternity Hospital. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

Until a couple of weeks ago, the Religious Sisters of Charity owned three hospitals: St Vincent’s University Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital, and St Michael’s Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. 

The sisters also owned the Elm Park and Dun Laoghaire sites of these facilities. The Elm Park lands in Dublin 4, a sprawling 28.7 acres, are among the most valuable in the country. The assets of the order were valued at €661m in 2018.