Southside to benefit from new HSE plan

A NUMBER of Southside health institutions are set to benefit from a massive HSE spending plan that was unveiled last week.

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, was at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, where he launched the plan alongside Minister for Health, Simon Harris, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and a number of junior ministers.

In welcoming the publication of the Health Service Executive’s Capital Plan, Mr Varadkar said: “Under Project 2040, we are doubling investment in healthcare infrastructure and equipment from €5 billion in the last 10-year period to more than €10bn in this one.”

One of the beneficiaries is the National Rehabilitation Hospital itself which stated on their website that they were “delighted to be included in this plan, with the phased redevelopment of the hospital on the existing site at Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire”.

A total of 250 projects are being funded as part of the new capital plan for the health service, the Government said, that includes funding for 30 new primary care centres and two new emergency departments.

According to Minister Josepha Madigan, the Southside is set to benefit from the funding that will go towards several local, vital, health projects.

Leopardstown Park Hospital is among the important projects included in the plan locally, the Fine Gael Minister confirmed.

“Today is a landmark moment for healthcare in South Dublin,” Minister Madigan said.

“This investment will make a real difference to the health system here and will benefit the local people for years to come.”

Cllr Emer Higgins (FG) said that the inclusion of Rowlagh Primary Care centre in the HSE plan was a welcome boost for local healthcare.

Cllr Higgins said the much-needed primary care centre will have a huge impact on local healthcare.

She said: “It is excellent news that this primary care centre is included in the HSE’s three-year capital plan. The area will benefit hugely from having a top-class primary care centre.

“This project has been a long-time coming and it is imperative now that there are no further delays.”

Cllr Higgins added: “We have seen some trying to play politics with this issue locally and I hope this now ends. This is too important an issue to be scaremongering for cheap political point scoring.

Also included in the plan is the completion of 100 beds at Peamount, which Cllr Higgins said was also welcome news for the area.

However, Fianna Fáil Senator Catherine Ardagh said Minister for Health Simon Harris should clarify the status of the long awaited Drimnagh Primary Care Centre.

The Crumlin-based Senator made the call following the publication of the HSE’s capital plan for health which makes no direct mention of a primary care centre for Drimnagh.

“While the publication of the capital plan will be welcomed by many it leaves more questions for residents in Drimnagh who are none the wiser as to the status of a primary care centre in the area,” the Senator said.