Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1159. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health her position on the management of vacant sites owned by the HSE and other public health organisations and how quickly they should be brought back into use, in particular the large sites at a location (details supplied). [37297/26]
View answerWhen an HSE property has been vacated by a service, it is necessary to establish if it is surplus to requirements and to decide whether to retain the property in the healthcare estate. A building may be vacated by one service with a view to refurbishment for an alternative use. A property may also be maintained for future service expansion at a specific location for demographic or service requirements.
If the property is to be disposed of, the HSE adheres to statutory obligations as set out in DPER Circulars 11/15 Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets, and 17/16 Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property, which require all State bodies to offer properties to other State stakeholders (including Local Authorities). Additional obligations exist under the Land Development Agency Act 2021.
Decisions in respect of vacant properties are informed by HSE service management and based on an understanding of current or future healthcare service needs in the relevant area.
With specific regard to properties located at Elm Park, Dublin 4, the HSE has acquired a portfolio of properties at Elm Park Green to support the provision of service delivery.
Elm Park Green is a key enabler for the delivery of the new National Maternity Hospital through the provision of accommodation for a number of decanted services, currently located in St Vincent’s University Hospital such as Administrative and HR functions to facilitate future development on the campus including the acute bed expansion plan.
In addition, there is significant demand from existing HSE services to be accommodated within this area, the planning of which is supported by ongoing feasibility studies and spatial planning process.
As part of the feasibility assessment and spatial planning process, the HSE is currently in the process of offering the available accommodation at Elm Park Green to internal HSE stakeholders (service providers).
