HSE expected to occupy Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre in late 2025

THE HSE expects to occupy the currently incomplete Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre by the end of 2025. 

Work on the primary care centre, stalled since 2021, is due to recommence this September following successful negotiations with the original contractor. 

In a response to questions tabled by local councillor Alma Gallagher at today’s HSE Regional Forum West meeting, the HSE said that the facility would be complete within ten months of work recommencing.  A minimum of two further months would be required for the HSE to equip the building. 

“Therefore it is expected the HSE might occupy the building in late Q3 / Q4 2025,” said Joe Hoare, Assistant National Director with HSE Capital & Estates, wrote in reply to Cllr Gallagher. 

The HSE has also confirmed that the development will be delivered as per the operational lease agreement. 

This model will see the HSE lease the building for a fixed period after entering an agreement with a developer to build a primary care centre. Several other primary care centres around the country have been delivered through such agreements. 

Sharpdale Ltd, the company contracted to deliver Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre, stopped work on the building in mid-2021 after it became no longer economically viable to continue. 

“The developer has formally advised that they are willing to proceed in accordance with the original signed Agreement for Lease and that they will adhere to the latest required HSE timelines. The HSE is not in a position to re-negotiate the commercial terms and the developer has acknowledged this,” Mr Hoare said. 

A detailed programme for commencement through to completion of the primary care centre is awaited and is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks.

The centre will employ approximately 18 staff and will deliver GP services, public health nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dental, immunisation, child and family psychology, dietetics, podiatry, home support and visiting integrated care services.

Cllr Gallagher previously acknowledged that there were ‘flaws’ with operational lease agreements but said there was still a role for developers in delivering public infrastructure.

“In this country, we shouldn’t be enabling developers and contractors to be leaving contracts, public work contracts, to be finished, and then starting other public work contracts under different names. There is a responsibility that they finish what they started,” she told The Mayo News.