€479k spent on security and power at vacant Crooksling

THE HSE has spent over €479k on security and electricity costs at the vacant St Brigid’s Nursing Home site in Crooksling since 2021, with the HSE projecting a spend of over €209k on the site during 2023.

The nursing home closed at the end of March 2020, with the majority of residents being transferred to the Tymon North Community Nursing Home.

Since that point, the site and the former nursing home building have lain idle, and at a Mid-Leinster Regional Health Forum meeting on Tuesday, the HSE revealed the costs associated with the site.

In 2021, the HSE spent €192,335 on security contracts for the site, €16,898 on electricity, and expenses listed as ‘other’ totalled €18,386, resulting in a total spend of €227,619.

In 2022, €192,336 was spent on security contracts, €16,070 was spent on electricity, while other costs were listed as minus €8,508, leading to a total spend of €199,898 during the year.

For the year to date, up to last March, €46,783 has been spent on security contracts, €4,772 on electricity and €40 on other expenses, with a projected spend of €209,246 by the end of the year.

The figures were revealed after local Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor queried the future of the site at a meeting of the Mid-Leinster Regional Health Forum this week.

Commenting on the money that is being spent on maintaining the vacant site, Cllr O’Connor told The Echo: “I’m astonished to note the costs that are involved, and at a time when the HSE is under pressure with finances.

“Finance is an important issue in the health service, and then we find out the HSE is spending an astonishing figure on a vacant site.

“I think it’s time for the Minister for Health and the HSE to decide what they’re going to do with the site.

“I wouldn’t say it’s wasted money, but it’s not achieving anything.

“It focuses my attention, in a serious way, as to what the minister and the HSE will do, because that’s money that could be used for other purposes.”

The future of the site is still undecided, and at the Regional Health Forum meeting Mary O’Kelly from the HSE outlined the current status of the future of the site.

“The HSE has been advised the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth would revert concerning potential interest from South Dublin County Council and their work on the humanitarian response for persons under temporary protection schemes,” stated Ms O’Kelly.

“A high-level feasibility study by SDCC was to be undertaken, however there has been little progress since the last study meetings were held in [the third quarter of 2022].

“In the interim, the HSE continues to address the cost of the surplus to requirement, vacant under review site liability.

“The Department of the Taoiseach has informed they are reviewing the cost liability incurred by CHO7 for the site and will follow up with the OPW.”

The OPW had previously been to the site to review it for the provision of modular housing for persons under temporary protection schemes, but stated it is not in their first phase of development.

The Echo contacted the HSE to confirm what the future plans for the site are, and if action will be taken to mitigate the costs associated with it, but a response wasn’t received at the time of print.