HSE pays out up to €1.5m in rent to private landlords

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) rents more than 100 premises around the country from private landlords at prices ranging from €50,000 to €1.5 million, the latest figures reveal.

The premises that tops the HSE’s own list is a primary care unit and area headquarters in Ballymun, North Dublin, which costs €1.56m a year to rent.

The premises was completed several years ago but lay idle for a time after a dispute emerged between the Department of Health and the then Northern Area Health Board over its use.