Health centre delayed again

PLANS for a long-awaited health centre in Dublin 15
have been delayed yet again after the HSE failed to find a suitable bidder to
fund the project.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been forced to
go back to the drawing board with its plans for the primary care centre in
Corduff because the tendering process for the Public Private Partnership (PPP)
failed.

Instead of work on the project getting underway early
this year as was hoped, it now seems as if the plan is going backwards.

Northside People has learned that the project has been
put on hold as the HSE is reviewing its options including the possibility of
tapping into Government coffers to progress the project.

It’s the second time since 2008 that the project has
stalled. Three years ago, a tendering process identified a preferred provider
for the primary care centre in Corduff but the plan failed to progress due to
the unavailability of a suitable site for the development.

Ironically, it’s now the lack of a preferred bidder
which has caused the current deferral as the HSE has its own site in Corduff
earmarked for the development.

According to Sinn Fein representative for the area,
Paul Donnelly, the PPP process whereby the HSE would enter into a private
sector lease agreement was never ideal.

“It’s disgraceful that the Corduff community, after
many years of waiting for this vital piece of health care infrastructure finds
it again put on hold due to the failure of the HSE to secure private funding
for the building,

? he stated.

“Sinn Féin was always opposed to the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) process as it is always more beneficial to the exchequer in
the long term to provide such facilities out of the public purse.

“I am now calling on the Minister for State with
the Department of Health, Roisin Shortall, to ensure that HSE capital funding
is immediately provided to build the Primary Care Centre for the people of
Corduff.

?

He added:

“It’s high time that the promises that have
been made for years made are finally delivered upon.

?

As part of the tendering process all interested
bidders were required to return declaration forms signed by at least three
doctors from the local area providing a commitment to operate their main
practice from the proposed primary care centre in Corduff.

A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed that plans to
lease the primary care centre from a third party have been scrapped.

“The disposal tender process was progressed mid 2011,
unfortunately none of the tenders met the required criteria and it was not possible
to conclude the disposal [of the site in Corduff owned by the HSE],

? she told
Northside People.

“The HSE are now reviewing all procurement options
available to progress this project, including direct exchequer funding.

“It is hoped that these discussion and reviews will be
concluded by the second quarter of 2012 and the timeframe for delivery of this
essential accommodation can be identified at that time.

?

While the plan for the primary care centre in Corduff
has stalled, work on the primary care centre in Mulhuddart is continuing with
the building due to be up and running later this year.