Property Transfers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2017

Thursday, 18 May 2017

Questions (234)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

234. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the buildings, including each publicly funded hospital, clinic, nursing home or health related-building, and equipment worth in excess of €10,000 that were transferred in whole or in part from his Department, the HSE or a body under the aegis of his Department or the HSE to a religious order or body or a voluntary body in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the name of the religious order or body in question; the date of transfer; the value and purpose of the transfer; the consideration that was paid to the Exchequer in return for the transfer of each of these assets; the details of each building, including each publicly funded hospital, clinic, nursing home or health-related building currently under construction that is being funded by his Department or the HSE and that is intended to be transferred in whole or in part to a religious order or body or a voluntary body; the projected value of the transfer; the purpose of the transfer; the amount spent to date; and the details of equipment that is intended to be transferred. [23812/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has not transferred buildings or equipment worth in excess of €10,000 to a religious order or body or a voluntary body.

In relation to the Health Service Executive and agencies under its remit the information sought will take some time to collate and my Department will liaise with the HSE in this regard. However, it is important to note that building works and equipment are made available to voluntary agencies in support of their various remits in the delivery of specific health care services. The Health Service Executive has in place processes and procedures which protect the State's interest. These are set out in the Executive's Protocol for the Acquisition and Disposal of Property and its National Financial Regulation 18.

Given the remit of the other smaller agencies under the aegis of my Department, these agencies do not deliver the type of health care services which would necessitate their access to or need for the type of buildings and equipment described in the question. Therefore, it is suggested that if this element of the query is to be further explored the Deputy should contact the relevant CEO/Director/Chairperson.