Latest news with #HSE-owned
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HSE 'fully committed' to developing primary care centre on council-owned car park in Killarney
The HSE has said it is 'fully committed' to developing a controversial primary care centre on a council-owned car park in Killarney, despite the fact it owns 14 vacant properties in key locations across Kerry. The provision of a primary care facility on the grounds of Áras Phádraig, a council-owned site donated by the Franscicsan Friars, is part of a joint venture between the HSE and Kerry County Council. The plan was given the go ahead by councillors at a meeting of the Killarney Municipal District in April when they were told the €21m project, which includes a theatre, would not get funding approval without the HSE primary care facility. However, the project will have to be voted on again after a number of submissions from the public were omitted. Kerry County Council has apologised for the mistake, re advertised, and the matter is expected to come before the municipal district later this summer. However, existing traffic congestion on the Lewis Rd, the small size of the theatre (230 seats), its nearness to the health centre, the proposed height of the building, and the loss of parking spaces, means the project has sparked some opposition in the town. Questions have also been raised over the fact the HSE owns a number of sites and property in Killarney which are vacant or about to be vacated. St Finan's former psychiatric hospital overlooking Killarney has been empty since 2012. Labour councillor Marie Moloney told the regional health forum that: 'A lot of people believe it is the wrong place. The public don't understand why the HSE, with so much land, would need the site for a primary care centre.' In response, the HSE said it was 'fully committed' to the project. 'There has been a number of previous attempts to provide a primary care facility in Killarney, with little positive results on the same,' said Julie O'Neill, integrated healthcare manager Kerry, HSE South West. 'Both the HSE and Kerry County Council officials are of the opinion that the provision of the theatre and a primary care facility on the same site in an urban setting will be complementary to each development from a planning and sustainability view point,' she said in a written reply. Meanwhile, the full extent of the vacant property owned by the HSE in Kerry was released following a query by Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris. Some 14 HSE-owned properties are currently vacant, it has emerged. These include, town centre buildings in Tralee, at Pembroke St and Denny St; the old Dingle Hospital and Workhouse; the St Finan's hospital, land, and gate House in Killarney; health centres in Dingle, Kenmare, Ballinskelligs, Waterville, and Rathmore, as well as radio stations in Knocknagoshel in the north of the county and Clahane in the west. 'The HSE is currently working through the Land Development Agency and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP delivery and reform processes for the disposal of properties which are surplus to requirements,' Daniel Clifford, director of estates department, HSE South West, said in a written reply. They will be sold if there is no public use for them, the meeting was told. Read More Skellig Michael opening delayed again with tour guides unavailable
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Kerry town to receive new ambulance point pending stakeholder agreement
In response to a request raised by Fianna Fáil Councillor Norma Moriarty, the HSE said the National Ambulance Service (NAS) had already engaged with the Integrated Health Area manager for Kerry and HSE Estates to identify a suitable HSE-owned building in Killorglin. A suitable building for a dispatch point has already been located but this is subject to agreement between existing stakeholders and HSE to allow the NAS commence service delivery in the coming weeks. The HSE stated that within its current resource level, it would be possible to provide a day only (8am-8pm) Patient Transporting Resource, in line with demand, and a single paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) on a limited number of nights. The intention is that the new service will represent an initial step towards increasing ambulance service delivery in Killorglin. "It will be augmented by additional paramedic posts that have been sought for the South Kerry region in the 2026 New Service Posts (NSP) submission,' the HSE South West confirmed. HSE South West provide updates on a range of issues to local authority members at its Regional Heath Forum relating to the delivery of health and social care services in Kerry. The Regional Health Forum comprises of representatives from Kerry County, Cork City, and Cork County Councils, as well as local authorities from the South East within the functional area of each Forum. Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill said he also called on the minister to prioritise the provision of an ambulance base in Killorglin. He noted that Killorglin town and the wider mid-Kerry region is too vastly populated to be without an ambulance base. He listed the number of festivals that take place in the region at summer time. "I raised this matter on a number of occasions as a member of Kerry County Council. Subsequently, I submitted a Parliamentary Question on this very issue at the end of April when making representations to the HSE. I will be raising the matter again next week in the Dáil," said Fianna Fáil's spokesperson for Older People & Tourism. "This ambulance base is absolutely critical and an absolute priority for Kerry. There are suitable locations available in Killorglin and it has always been a priority for me. I am confident that my strong representations will bare fruit," added Deputy Cahill.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
New ambulance base poised for St Brigid's Hospital lands in Ballinasloe
A letter was submitted by the NAS in response to a parliamentary question by Claire Kerrane TD, asking the Minister for Health to consider the establishment of a new ambulance base on the HSE-owned lands. A review has recently been taking place between the NAS and the local HSE Capital & Estates office into the use of lands at St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe. In the review, the NAS indicated the requirement for a new ambulance base to replace the existing facility and said that this provision had been included in the lands to be retained by the HSE. The NAS has also pointed to a need for a fixed long-term base for educational facilities in the region, with college services currently provided from the Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre building. "I welcome any new service being made available on the St. Brigid's site, especially a much-needed new ambulance base to replace the current one in Ballinasloe,' Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon-Galway Claire Kerrane said. "I have also asked the HSE that they consider co-locating a purpose specific education facility for the National Ambulance Service given their need for a new education centre. I believe St Brigid's is a perfect location for both, and it would be beneficial to have them co-located. "I again call on the HSE to explore what other services and supports can be provided to the people of Ballinasloe and surrounding areas on the St Brigid's site before moving to the open market which could see lands sitting on the market for a long time, providing a perfect excuse for the HSE not to do more to develop it."
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Kerry County Council apologises as multi-million-euro projects delayed
A number of multi-million-euro projects in Kerry will be delayed as they must go before the public again for comment despite local councillors voting them through just last month. Kerry County Council has apologised for the setback, which will affect a number of projects, including a long-awaited theatre and six storey health services building. An 'internal procedural checking process' carried out by the council uncovered four separate instances where online public submissions had not been considered during the Part 8 development process. The submissions had not been made available to councillors during the voting process in Listowel and in Killarney. The affected projects will have to be readvertised, go before the public again for comment and voted on again by councillors. The projects include €21m plans in Killarney to redevelop the Áras Phádraig site into a theatre and health services building and other town centre works. Councillors recently approved the plans here. However, controversy has been growing because the development of the Lewis Road site will lead to a reduction in car park spaces in a town choked with traffic and chronically short of parking. Questions had also been raised about the appropriateness of giving council -wned land to the HSE for a health services building — when at least three hospitals in Killarney on HSE-owned land will shortly become vacant. Public realm improvements at Kenmare Place and Main Street, Killarney, will also now have to go out for consultation again. Safety improvement works at Abbeydorney Junction will also have to be voted on again. The fourth project impacted is the N22 MD O'Shea Roundabout to Ballycasheen Road Upgrade & L3907 Ballycasheen Road Active Travel Project, in the Killarney Municipal District. However, as this project is still within the statutory time frame, unlike the other three projects, it does not require to be re-advertised. 'An updated report in respect of the project to take account of all submissions received will be required to be considered at the upcoming Killarney Municipal District meeting,' Kerry County Council said in a statement. "Kerry County Council wishes to confirm that a full check of the process in relation to the above developments has been carried out and to apologise for any inconvenience caused." Councillors are unlikely to vote against the Aras Phádraig project; Killarney councillor Niall Botty O'Callaghan said the HSE input, though not ideal, was vital to receive funding of up to €15 million for the redevelopment. A small theatre was much needed, he said, adding:"Killarney can't afford to lose €15 million, and what is to happen to the Aras Phádraig - to lie idle for another 15 to 20 years? ' The project is expected to come before the council again in July. Read More Tourism to Ireland falls by 15% during March continuing a downward trend
