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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories TD Malcolm Byrne criticised the slow pace vacant HSE buildings are being brought back into use.Alamy Housing Crisis Number of vacant properties controlled by the HSE rises to over 230 The HSE controls over 4000 properties across the country. 6.01am, 23 Apr 2025 Share options THE HSE HAS 234 vacant properties under its control, an increase on the amount it held this time last year. Of the 234 vacant properties in the control of the HSE as of 28 February 2025, 93 are deemed “surplus to requirement” and in various stages of disposal. Some 38 of the 234 vacant properties are under review by the HSE, meaning they are being considered for retention, reuse or disposal. The remaining 103 of the 234 vacant properties across the country are considered “retained assets” by the HSE, meaning that they are vacant but are being kept for varying reasons, including for future use. The figures were released by the HSE in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow-Wexford Malcolm Byrne. Byrne told The Journal he is frustrated over the level of vacant properties held by the HSE and the “slow pace at which they are dealing with these unused assets”. Advertisement “For over 11 years, for example, there has been a fine building in Camolin, Co Wexford left vacant – it used to be a health centre – and every effort to get it back into use has failed because of HSE inaction,” he said. The health centre in Camolin has been vacant since it closed in 2014. The number of vacant properties held by the HSE has increased in the last 12 months. An internal audit conducted by the HSE last year found that the number of vacant properties in its possession can fluctuate over time. For example, there were 278 vacant properties in February 2022, dropping to 183 in February 2024 before rising again to 205 in April 2024. The HSE has circa 4,400 buildings across circa 2,600 locations in its possession across the country. At the end of last year, Social Democrats TD and now acting leader Cian O’Callaghan said the HSE must outline why it is sitting on over 200 vacant properties in the middle of a housing crisis. “It also raises the wider question of how many vacant properties owned by State bodies are lying empty around the country,” he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Jane Matthews Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Number of vacant properties controlled by the HSE rises to over 230”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Number of vacant properties controlled by the HSE rises to over 230”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... 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