Ring calls on government to intervene to deliver Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre

MAYO TD Michael Ring has called on the Government to intervene to complete Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre, which has sat in an unfinished state for almost three years.

The veteran Fine Gael TD called on the government to ‘step in’ to resume progress on the primary care centre, which was due to be completed in October 2020.

Deputy Ring said the lack of progress on the facility was ‘not acceptable’ and also raised concern over the lack of information on the matter.

Sharpdale Ltd stopped work on the building in May 2021 and have since begun work on a primary care centre in Portumna.

Significant concern has been raised locally regarding the ownership of the building, which started through a so-called ‘operational lease’ model.

“Ballyhaunis and the surrounding community urgently require a fully operational Primary Care Centre,” said Deputy Ring, who raised the matter in Dáil Éireann this afternoon (Wednesday).

“Four Primary Care Centres were promised when James Reilly was Minister for Health. All of them were delivered except the one for Ballyhaunis.

“Ballyhaunis is a very diverse, multicultural town now. This Primary Care Centre is needed more than ever”.

Minister of State Colm Burke, responding on behalf of Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said the Department of Health was ‘aware of the frustration this has caused the people of the town’.

Minister Burke said the HSE was continuing to engage with the contractor, who had raised concerns regarding the viability of the project.

He added that HSE has assured the Minister for Health ‘that it will be exploring all options to deliver a new primary care centre in the area.

“In this regard, the Minister wishes to assure the Deputy that this Government remains committed to the provision of the primary care centre in Ballyhaunis and to the continued development of primary care centres throughout the country,” added Minister Burke.

Deputy Ring said he did feel the government was showing ‘no urgency’ regarding the issue and called for another contractor to be appointed to complete the building

Minister Burke said that the issue needed to be prioritised and said he would raise it again with the Minister for Health.

Minister Burke added: “I will follow this matter up myself for the Deputy as well because I do understand there are sometimes legal technicalities that arise and there may be a stand-off between various parties involved. This means it is sometimes difficult to resolve these issues. I will, therefore, see what further information I can get for the Deputy concerning this issue.”