Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister again thanks the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. The HSE is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate and, as I mentioned, as of 29 February a total of 183 vacant properties were at various stages. To ensure the optimal use of State land, the HSE has developed property protocols for the acquisition and disposal of property that are in line with the Department of public expenditure's circular. Recently, the HSE has been very co-operative with the Department of children and integration in making a small number of properties available to us to help us with accommodation issues, but that is notwithstanding the large number, 183, that remain vacant.