HSE urgency to complete Mayo Primary Health Care Centre questioned by councillor

A MAYO councillor has questioned the urgency to complete the delayed Ballyhaunis Primary Health Care Centre despite being informed it should be open to the public by the end of 2025.

The completion of the Ballyhaunis Primary Health Care Centre has been delayed since work stopped abruptly at the site along the Knock Road in April 2021. However it has been confirmed that the builder has returned on site in recent weeks with mechanical and electrical subcontractors due to return on site in October.

The issue regarding the completion of the Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre was raised during this afternoon's HSE Regional Health Forum West meeting by local councillor Alma Gallagher who asked for details of the key milestones and dates for the project's completion.

The Fine Gael councillor had submitted a series of questions to the HSE before the meeting in relation to the current status and schedule of works for the primary care centre in the east Mayo town.

Joe Hoare, Assistant National Director, HSE Capital and Estates explained that no date has been confirmed for the building's completion but outlined that the 'builder has been engaging with his supply chain and an updated construction programme to completion is being finalised once they have confirmation from the various trades on the extent of works to be completed and timelines for same'.

Cllr Gallagher told the meeting that the old health centre in the town is a health and safety risk for both patients and staff and questioned the urgency to complete the project.

“It is welcome that there will be electrical contractors on site in October but I am questioning the sense of urgency in completing this project. Ballyhaunis has a rising population and the existing centre is not fit for purpose and is a health and safety hazard at this stage not only for the service users but also for the staff who have raised huge issues in terms of the health and safety conditions they are working.

“I am just wondering in terms of the energy and the urgency of the development of the project can we put more energy behind it and get some milestone schedule in place that has accountability to the contractor. We heard about the National Children's Hospital and I don't want the Ballyhuanis Primary Care Centre to be one of those projects that is left lingering. It would be great to get some schedule and some urgency towards the completion of the project,” she said.

In response, Tony Canavan, the HSE Regional Executive Officer, for the West and North West said he did not share the councillor's anxiety over the project and explained that they expect the construction work to be completed within ten months and the building to be fitted within 12 months.

“While I understand the anxiety that might arise I don't think we are in the same place in respect of the primary care centre in Ballyhaunis. I do think we will have a programme we will be able to share with yourselfs and even as it stands we have an indicative timeframe of ten months and a further possible two months for commissioning. We are probably looking for some time at the end of 2025 for the primary care centre to be in use,” he said.