The HSE currently controls more than 200 vacant properties.

A parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne shows 93 of those are actively being sold or disposed of.

Deputy Byrne said the figures are troubling in the middle of a housing crisis.

"It really frustrates me that the HSE has been sitting over these derelict and vacant buildings," he said.

"I started pursuing the issue, and a number of years ago they had as many as 400 of these assets around the country that were either underutilised or vacant, or in some cases derelict.

"So, that number has started to come down."

A further 38 properties are under review, while 103 buildings across the country are vacant but are being retained for potential future use.

Main image: A sign for HSE services in Dundalk, Co Louth in September 2014. Picture by: Stephen Barnes/Medical / Alamy Stock Photo