‘Sod it – we’ll have our own ceremony’

MEMBERS of Corduff Health Action Group held their own sod turning ceremony last week to mark the opening of the area’s new Primary Care Centre.

The local campaigners felt snubbed because they weren’t invited to the official launch, which was due to take place a day later but was cancelled after Minister for Health Leo Varadkar was called for a Dáil vote.

The local residents have lobbied for the last decade to secure funding for the new centre and believe they should have received an invite to the launch.

“We acknowledge and accept that the Minister has the role of doing the official sod turning,

? a spokesperson for the group said.

“However, we feel that we are due a little bit of courtesy and should have been invited.

?
Corduff’s Primary Care Centre has been a long running local saga. The need for a health centre was first identified over 30 years ago. Following years of extensive campaigning the HSE finally began actively planning it in 2007.

However, issues with ownership of the preferred site caused delays and construction never began.

In 2010 it looked like the transfer of lands adjacent to Corduff Shopping Centre from the council would pave the way for the development, but the saga continued.

In September last year Fingal County Council finally granted permission for the centre and last week’s cancelled ceremony was to mark the beginning of construction.
And while locals are delighted that work is finally getting under way, they felt they should have been invited to the event as a matter of courtesy.

“Local residents have worked hard to make this happen,

? the spokesperson said.

“We have worked progressively with HSE officials, with the local Primary Care team and with the architects for the project. We feel it is a snub to be ignored.

“The campaign to have the Primary Care Centre built has been a community affair, with thousands of residents signing postcards and petitions, hundreds taking part in protests and dozens involved in promoting community health.

“At all times we have attempted to be positive and progressive despite attempts by this Government and its predecessor to scrap the proposed centre.

“We want to thank former Minister of State Roisin Shortall, who finally agreed to it. But most of all we have decided to hold our own sod turning ceremony as a way to acknowledge and thank the people of Corduff for making it happen.

?