The Health Service Executive (HSE) has announced that progress has been made on the development of the North Clondalkin primary health care centre.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that the process of the acquisition of the site on the grounds of Collinstown Community College was being advanced.
The information was revealed after Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West Mark Ward asked Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to make a statement on the matter.
“The provision of a state-of-the art primary health care centre is badly needed in North Clondalkin,” Deputy Ward said.
“An agreement was reached in 2015 between The Department of Education and The Department of Health on a transfer of lands at Collinstown Community College.
“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.”
However, last year Education Minister Norma Foley said that negotiations between the HSE, Department of Education, Collinstown Community College, and the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB) had been ongoing regarding the transfer of the site which delayed proceedings.
As part of the move, it was agreed that the HSE would construct additional facilities for Collinstown Community College on the land in question.
However, Minister Foley said that plans changed and that “additional facilities for the school that adjoined the main school building would be more effective and provide a value-for-money solution.”
Deputy Ward said progress must now move swiftly.
“It is now 2023 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,” he said.
“I welcome the news I received from the HSE that the process of formal acquisition of the site for the primary care centre will now be progressed.
“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.
“The plans for the Rowlagh Primary Healthcare Centre are to house a nurse-managed clinic, suites for speech and language therapy, occupational and physiotherapy therapy, a dental clinic, a paediatrics suite, GP suites and a mental health suite.
“These are much needed services that the people of North Clondalkin are crying out for.
“I also welcome the money has been allocated for the primary care centre in the 2023 capital programme.
“I will be contacting the Minister regularly to make sure there are no more delays.”