The issue of co-location was reportedly one of the major stumbling blocks in government talks between the Green Party who are opposed to the policy and Fianna F�il.

However the Labour Party, who may emerge as kingmakers for the formation of a government, also strongly disagree with the policy and have reaffirmed their commitment to reverse it, if in government.

"I am working on the basis that it [co-location] is irreversible, " said of the HSE's National Hospitals Office, who says that contracts should be ready for signing in two weeks.

No contact had been made between the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive regarding the issue last week.

"It's so far along at this stage.

Going by previous projects, it would take 18 years [for the state] to build new hospitals so I'm not too worried about what is going on in the government talks right now, " he said. Finn said it had taken 18 years to complete Cork University Hospital.

However the Labour Party health spokesperson, Liz McManus TD, said that if contracts are not signed then the project would not go ahead if whoever was in government were to withdraw support for it.

"This is anything but a done deal. It is being done because it is a policy decision and if policy changes then everything could change. The contracts haven't been signed so it's not final as far I'm concerned, " she said after the collapse of talks between the Greens and Fianna F�il.

She also rejected the idea that it would take 18 years to publicly build a hospital such as the ones being proposed in co-location but did admit that it would take longer then if they were done privately.

"That length of time is a bit ridiculous. It can be done a lot faster. I know there are delays to doing these things publicly, " she added.

One bidder who was contacted by the Sunday Tribune said that they have the "pen at the ready" and will sign the contract within one minute of it being issued; if they found out they were successful.

"Every time we read the papers the process is about to fall apart because of political concerns. If our bid is successful I will sign it in less than a minute. The uncertainty is killing us but from here it seems to be only one way from here" he said.

The cost of making one submission to build and manage a hospital was estimated at Euro500,000 after legal, architects' and planners' bills are brought into the equation.

"I'm afraid to get the bills, " said one bidder.