HSE denies holding on to land during housing crisis
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The HSE has denied it is sitting on land that could be used for much-needed housing despite an internal audit finding it has over 200 vacant sites.
Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said it is "unconscionable" that a state agency would hold that much land in a housing crisis.
“The HSE must outline why it is sitting on these properties and if any plans have been drawn up to sell or repurpose them," said Mr O'Callaghan.
“It also raises the wider question of how many vacant properties owned by state bodies are lying empty around the country.
“In addition to introducing a vacant property tax with teeth, the next government must carry out a full audit of any empty public buildings or offices that could be handed over to the Land Development Agency or local authorities to deliver social or affordable homes.”
In response to Mr O'Callaghan's comments, the HSE said that it had 130 sites in various stages of either being sold or being reviewed for sale.
It also has 104 properties that are considered retained assets. It says that these properties are vacant and have been retained for "varying reasons", including future needs.
"Decisions, informed by service management are based on an understanding of current or future healthcare service needs in the relevant area.
"A building may be vacated by one service with a view to refurbishment for alternative use, or a property may be maintained for future service expansion at a specific location for demographic or service requirements. They may be vacant/derelict buildings in the middle of healthcare campus."
A spokesperson for the HSE said it continues to "engage with the Department of Health, Department of Housing, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Department of An Taoiseach in relation to its surplus assets as part of an ‘all of Government’ approach to increasing housing stock".
The HSE said that it adheres to requirements around offering surplus buildings to the State.
It said the HSE has disposed of 46 assets in 2023 and 2024, a significant amount of which have been transferred to local authorities and said that state stakeholders, local authorities and approved housing bodies have expressed interest in 55 of the overall total of 130 vacant HSE properties.
The HSE said that it also transferred St Kevin’s in Cork City to the LDA for the provision of 266 homes and land at St Finan’s in Killarney to Kerry County Council for housing purposes.