Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that serious questions need to be answered around the leasing and lack of use of Citywest by the HSE at a cost of around €20 million. Teachta Crowe said that he understood the need for contingencies in case of a surge of COVID-19, but did not understand how there was no Plan B in the event of no spike in cases.

Teachta Crowe made his comments after Minister Simon Harris confirmed that the lease on Citywest will not be renewed past October.

Teachta Crowe said:

“The leasing of Citywest by the HSE is set to cost the state €20 million. This is a staggering amount of money for a facility that was barely used so far in the fight against COVID-19.

“While I understand that contingencies for a surge in COVID cases, there seems to have been no Plan B in case there was no such spike. Citywest was left practically empty for the past number of months.

“There are healthcare facilities in Dublin South West crying out for step down facilities, why was there no consideration given to them?

“We saw a similar situation with the private hospitals. More than one of which stood empty at the start of June.

“Now the state, after paying €300 million to the private hospitals and not using them, will have to pay out millions more through the National Treatment Purchase Fund to try and clear some of waiting lists, which have only grown worse.

“This is typical of the lack of a joined up approach by the HSE. We must do better when it comes to the use of limited tax payers resources that are allocated to healthcare. Otherwise, we are simply flushing good money down the drain and undermining the vital work of our health service.”