More than 30 empty HSE properties across Cork city and county  

There are currently 33 vacant HSE properties across Cork city and county, the HSE has revealed.

A HSE South West spokesperson told The Echo that, of these, 22 properties are being prepared for disposal, either to other state bodies or through the open market, in line with the HSE property protocol and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform process.

Three properties are under review for potential future use as healthcare facilities, and eight properties are located on existing HSE campus sites and are being retained for future redevelopment.

“This information reflects the current status and may be subject to change as reviews progress,” the spokesperson added.

Data given to Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny in response to a parliamentary question in January this year showed that there were 14 vacant HSE buildings in Cork city at the time.

Under review 

This included five sites which were under review for service provision in the future. Among these were the Grattan Street Dispensary, vacant since 2022, Oak Lodge, vacant since 2023, and Glenmalure House, Kilmourne House, and Carriglee, all vacant since 2024.

The HSE said they were working on the disposal of a healthcare building at 2 and 3 Shandon St; vacant since 2020, a dispensary in Passage West, vacant since 2023; Mahon Health Centre, vacant since 2024; and Riverstown Dispensary, vacant since 2023. 

A building in St Mary’s Orthopaedic Health Campus had been vacant since 2024 but was to be retained as it is part of the overall health campus on site. The same was true for four different units at St Stephen’s Hospital, where more than 22% of units were vacant, but were being retained as they are part of the overall campus.

Failure

Mr Kenny told The Echo the fact that there are 33 vacant HSE properties across Cork “is a failure by the state”.

“I implore the HSE to act on the disposal of such properties or perhaps more beneficial, maintain the properties and use them for essential needs.”

Labour councillor in Cork City South East Peter Horgan called for buildings to be returned to use as soon as possible.

 “Whether it is disposing of them to community organisations to utilise them as educational and support hubs or retaining them for healthcare use we must ensure the property stock is utilised to the best potential it possibly can.”

Nationally, the HSE has 234 vacant properties under its control: 93 are deemed “surplus to requirement” and in various stages of disposal, 38 are under review and 103 are being retained for future development.