Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I want to raise the issue of derelict properties that are owned by the HSE and have been allowed to sit vacant and idle for years. There are two examples in my county, Wexford. First, we have St. John's Community Hospital in Enniscorthy. The original hospital building was built in the 1840s to be a union workhouse that accommodated approximately 600 people.

The hospital has been built up around the original hospital and the original building has fallen into disrepair, disuse and dereliction. We urgently need clarification from the HSE on what exactly are the plans it has for that building. There is widespread community support locally for it to be renovated and brought back into use. It is important that this is actioned and we have a clear plan.

Further down the road in Wexford town, we have the old Wexford hospital. Similarly, it was built in 1842 and it used to be a union workhouse as well. It has now fallen into disrepair to the point where the roof no longer exists. It is infested by rats, surrounded by overgrowth and there are trees growing up through the building. The HSE still owns it and to best of my knowledge it has not come forward with a concrete plan on what exactly is to happen that building. There were suggestions that it was going to be brought back into use for office space for the adjoining Wexford General Hospital. I know the local community has many different ideas and initiatives. We urgently need a debate in this Chamber on the issue of the derelict properties the HSE has across the country. I urge the Leader to bring this forward to this Chamber.