Primary Health Centre works are now going to proceed after delays
SOME progress has been made on the provision of a primary health centre in North Clondalkin despite significant delays over the past seven years.
The Primary Care Centre, which has been in the works for over seven years, was initially due to be completed in 2016 but has faced several setbacks.
An agreement was reached in 2015 between The Department of Health on a transfer of lands at Collinstown Community College and planning permission was granted in 2018 for the construction of a two-storey primary healthcare centre and a single-storey multi-functional space in the grounds of Collinstown Park Community College in Rowlagh, Clondalkin.
Initially the HSE anticipated commencing construction of the centre in early 2019, with a completion date of August 2020, but this has been pushed back due to an issue with the transfer of land at Collinstown Community College from the Department of Education.
Sinn Féin TDs for Dublin Mid West, Mark Ward and Eoin Ó Broin have welcomed that some progress has been made on the provision of a primary health care centre in North Clondalkin on the grounds of Collinstown Community College.
The Sinn Féin deputies were part of a cross party group of Dublin Mid West TDs who raised this matter with the Minister for Education after a long delay in the transfer of lands.
“The provision of a state-of-the art primary health care centre is badly needed in North Clondalkin”, said Teachta Ward. “An agreement was reached in 2015 between The Dept of Education & The Department of Health on a transfer of lands at Collinstown Community College.
“It is now 2022 and not a sod of earth has been turned on the site, despite, planning permission, the fire safety cert and the disability access certificate all being granted.
“I welcome that the Minister announced last night during a debate on the issue that the disposal of the site for the primary care centre will now proceed.
“I will now be contacting the Minister for Health to ensure that there are no more delays.”
Teachta Ó Broin says that he has urged the Minister to work with the cross-party delegation of Deputies to allow the HSE to proceed with the facility.
“North Clondalkin is a strong and vibrant community, but also one that experiences significant socioeconomic disadvantage. Therefore, the delay in this facility has all sorts of additional consequences,” he said.
“I welcomed the Ministers response that her Department can provide the HSE with the necessary licences to enable it to commence development work on the site pending completion of the sale.”
The centre, when complete, is to employ 36 staff and provide a substantial range of primary care services including a GP Clinic, a nurse managed clinic, suites for speech and language therapy, occupational and physiotherapy, a dental clinic, a paediatrics suite and a mental health suite from 9am-6pm every weekday and some out of hour GP services.
