Green light for primary care centre

DUBLIN City Council has granted planning permission for the Finglas Primary Care Centre on land bordered by Mellowes Road, Mellowes Avenue and Kildonan Road.

The news will come as a blow to local residents who had been campaigning have the centre built on a more central location.

The residents, who formed the Mellowes Area Action Group (MAAG) this summer, say they’re fully behind the centre but they want it located on a

“central, fit-for-purpose

? site.

In July 2013 councillors rejected the controversial plan by a vote of 3-2 and instead backed a motion supporting a primary care centre for the area and pledging to work with the HSE to find

“the best possible site

?.

Councillors were then warned that the vote would inevitably delay the badly needed and long-awaited project and the plan was put forward again the following month and passed by 4-1 majority.

Despite objections from MAAG, the council has now granted permission for the project, subject to a number of conditions.

The centre will be 2,700 sq mts in size and will be home to three Primary Care Teams providing a range of health services to the Finglas area.

It will also house an adult mental health out-patient service and a base for the Finglas Community Mental Health Team. Accommodation for 10 GP clinics will also be included at the facility.

The conditions for construction outlined by the council stipulate that vehicles will enter the centre from Mellowes Road and exit onto Mellowes Avenue.

Work will be allowed on site from 7am-6pm on Monday to Friday and from 8am to 6pm on Saturday. There will be no site activity on Sundays or public holidays, except in exceptional circumstances when written permission will be needed from the council.

Another condition compels the developer to keep adjoining streets clear of debris during construction and all trees to be retained on the site must also be adequately protected while the centre is being developed.

The granting of permission was welcomed by local TD, John Lyons (Lab).

“The new centre will bring together a team of health professionals to meet the needs of the people living in the wider Finglas area,

? he said.

“Providing more of our healthcare at primary level is a key part of the Government’s health policy and has been Labour Party policy for many years.

“Free access to primary care is a vital building block of a more equitable health service – treating patients in their own community, facilitating early diagnosis and less complicated treatments. It’s good for patients, and good for the healthcare budget.

?

Deputy Lyons said he believed the HSE had worked hard to consult with the local community on the plans and had taken several of their concerns on board before submitting the planning application.

“Dublin City Council have now approved these plans, albeit with nine clear conditions for construction, which means the centre can proceed to construction after several delays,

? he continued.

“Along with my Labour colleague and Finglas South resident, John Redmond, I supported a primary health centre based in the community from the beginning as I believe it will make a huge difference to people’s health all across Finglas.

“The decision brings a fantastic health facility for all Finglas residents a step closer and I hope it can progress to construction as soon as possible.

?