Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the UHL group has a mortgage on its property portfolio in view of the fact that the HSE is not permitted to hold mortgages; and the person who authorised this mortgage and signed off on same. [38297/18]
View answer258. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the person or body that applied for and authorised a bridging loan of behalf of UHL hospital group going back to 2014. [38298/18]
View answer265. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the taking out of a mortgage and a bridging loan by UHL has not been reported to the director general by the head of estates for the HSE and head of maintenance; and the reason a formal investigation into the way in which and the reason this happened has not been carried out. [38312/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257, 258 and 265 together.
Under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies, the Chairperson of the Board of all public bodies, including the HSE, should seek the approval of the relevant Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of any material acquisition or disposal of land, buildings or other material assets proposed by a State body. This also includes long-term leases or purchase of right to use (rather than own) an asset. The information requested by you in relation to the UHL Group and the HSE is not available in my Department. As governance of Hospital Groups falls under the HSE's remit, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you on this matter.
