Accommodation rented in Kerry by the HSE for frontline workers was unused for long periods.
It has cost the HSE nearly €70,000 so far to rent properties and rooms in the county due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the HSE secured a number of properties and rooms in the county, including 60 rooms in the Rose Hotel, costing nearly €23,800.
The hotel, which wasn’t required to accommodate any patients with – or suspected of having – COVID-19, provided the rooms for frontline workers.
Occupancy rates in the hotel were typically 8%-15%, and never exceeded 20%.
Three self-catering homes in Ard Mullen and Inbhear Scéine in Kenmare were also secured at a cost of €9,600; these homes had occupancy rates between 25%-67%.
However, they were empty for a number of weeks.
Three additional properties in Kenmare, which were added in July, had occupancies of 67% or lower.
No invoices had been submitted for these properties, as of July 15th.
The information was given to Independent Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, who’d sought information on third party support locations hired by the HSE during COVID-19.
