Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2024
131. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his Department will engage with a group (details supplied) regarding the use of a building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25639/24]
View answerThe HSE has a significant property portfolio extending to c.4,400 buildings across c.2,600 locations throughout the country. These buildings range in age from pre-18th century to modern purpose-built facilities. The health estate is varied and complex, ranging from small health centres in rural locations to very large acute hospitals. The estate is actively managed and changes constantly. The HSE actively manages this portfolio including the disposal of identified surplus assets.
The HSE adheres to its statutory obligations and is required to offer surplus assets in the first case to the LDA and then to other State stakeholders (including Local Authorities) under Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets & 17/16 Policy for the Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property.
The HSE must follow the official process for the disposal of properties by State bodies and agencies. When a HSE property has been vacated by a service it is necessary to establish if it is surplus to requirements and decide to retain the property in the healthcare estates. If the property is to be disposed of, the process hierarchy is set out as follows:
• Offer the property to the LDA via written notification.
• Should the LDA not choose to take up the property, under DPER Circulars 11/2015 & 17/2016 the HSE must then offer the property to other State Stakeholders via the State Property Register.
• Should no other State Stakeholders take up the property, the HSE then places the property for sale on the open market.
The HSE owned property at Shandon Street, Cork was under review by HSE for the potential provision of health care services. However, the said Service have confirmed that the said property was deemed not required. The property was found to be surplus to health care needs, it is currently in the process of being offered to the LDA, in the process as outlined above.
Should a local authority identify HSE property which they believe could be repurposed for community use, the local authority should contact the HSE in the first instance to determine the potential use of the property.
