Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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523. To ask the Minister for Health the number of residential properties currently owned by the Health Service Executive which are in the process of being disposed of; whether any of these properties have been assessed for potential alternative public use prior to disposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29292/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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524. To ask the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive's management of its residential property portfolio, including vacancy and disposal decisions, has been subject to internal audit or review since 2020; the dates and findings of any such audits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29293/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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525. To ask the Minister for Health whether she has issued any policy direction or guidance to the Health Service Executive regarding the retention, disposal, or repurposing of residential properties; whether consideration has been given to the use of such properties in addressing housing or accommodation pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29294/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Statutory obligations exist for all State bodies, including the HSE, in respect of the disposal of surplus properties, including properties potentially suitable for housing. These obligations are set out in DPER Circulars 11/15 Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets, and 17/16 Policy for the Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property, which require all State bodies to offer properties to other State stakeholders (including Local Authorities). Additional obligations exist under the Land Development Agency Act 2021.

The HSE must follow the official process for the disposal of properties by State bodies and agencies. When a HSE property has been vacated by a service it is necessary to establish if it is surplus to requirements and to decide whether to retain the property in the healthcare estate. If the property is to be disposed of, the process hierarchy is set out as follows:

• Offer the property to the LDA via written notification.
• Should the LDA not choose to take up the property, under DPER Circulars 11/2015 & 17/2016 the HSE must then offer the property to other State Stakeholders via the State Property Register.
• Should no other State Stakeholders take up the property, the HSE then places the property for sale on the open market.