Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1646. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to outline Government policy with respect to the management and-or disposal of HSE property that is surplus to requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/23]
View answerThe Governance environment for the Health Service Executive’s acquisition and disposal of property interests is carried out in line with statutory obligations, regulatory frameworks, Departmental Circulars, Codes of Governance, requirements of the HSE Board and best practice procedures in the management of property transactions.
When a HSE property has been vacated by a service it is necessary to establish if it is surplus to requirements. This involves engagement with other HSE services to establish if they have a need for the property in question. This may involve notifying the CEO of the relevant hospital and the Chief Officer of the Community Healthcare Organisation or through an accommodation group if established.
If the property is not required by another service, Capital & Estates must decide if it will be disposed of or retained in the healthcare estate. If the property is to be retained, a business case submission to the HSE Property Review Group (PRG) will be required (in line with DPER circular 17/2016).
If the property is to be disposed of, the sequence of procedures in line with requirements, is as follows:
• Engage with the LDA through written notification.
• Engage with other State stakeholders (State Property Register under DPER Circulars 11/2015 & 17/2016)
• Put the property on the open market.
With regard to property that is surplus to HSE requirements, in 2022 a list of some 300 HSE properties across the State, surplus to health sector requirements and potentially suitable for use in providing accommodation under Housing for All, and also in the provision of accommodation for Ukraine refugees, was provided to the Department of Housing and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
My Department and the HSE continue to engage in the management of the health estate including identification of any property surplus to health requirements and in the whole-of-government approach to Housing for All and the provision of Ukrainian refugee accommodation.
