Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue and for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the future plans for the site of St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe. I also thank and commend the Senator for her work on health and disability issues more generally in the Seanad over recent years. Over recent years, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has consolidated the services on the St. Brigid's Hospital site as part of the transition to community-based mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.A development programme has focused on vacating the main building complex and developing fit-for-purpose facilities on lands adjacent to, but separate from, the main campus. This has resulted in a significant portion of the St. Brigid's Hospital site and lands being surplus to HSE requirements. Oak Grove House is the last building on the campus still in service but I understand that replacement purpose-built accommodation is currently being developed. Once this last building is vacated, the HSE intends to proceed with the disposal of parts of the St. Brigid's Hospital site and lands that are surplus to requirements.

The HSE is a prescribed stakeholder under the protocol for the intra-State transfer of State property assets and the protocol for the intra-State sharing of property assets, as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These protocols set out three options for disposal of assets: the transfer to another public body or State agency; open market sale, subject to favourable market conditions; or other uses such as community and voluntary use will be considered only if points one and two do not materialise.

Any proposals for the disposal of surplus property assets must be considered in the context of the capital funding available to the Department of Health and Government policy relating to the use and management of State property assets. In this context, the HSE is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets and the proceeds are reinvested in delivering much needed healthcare infrastructure. In preparation for the disposal of the assets, in 2018 the HSE invited expressions of interest, together with business plans, from relevant State bodies, stakeholders and local authorities. The Office of Public Works, OPW, requested an extension to the deadline in order to complete a report on the potential future use of St. Brigid's Hospital site and lands. I understand the report has recently been completed and is currently being reviewed by the property management section of the OPW. Pending the outcome from this process, the intention would be to develop a proposal and seek approval to proceed with the transfer or disposal of the asset, in line with State property protocols.

The use of the sales' proceeds from the disposal of St. Brigid's Hospital will be subject to sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It would be intended that the proceeds of the sale of this property will be invested in much needed mental health and other facilities in addition to the very significant Exchequer funding required to maintain and improve health infrastructure.