Recommencement of construction on Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre welcomed 

THE recommencement of construction activity on Ballyhaunis Primary Care Centre after several years of inactivity has been welcomed by Mayo TD Dara Calleary. 

Work on the primary care centre ceased for over three years after the developer stopped work on the site in mid-2021 after it became no longer economically viable. 

The developer, Sharpdale Ltd, subsequently started work on another primary care centre in Portumna, Co Galway. 

Intermittent construction activity began at Ballyhuanis Primary Care Centre last year following negotiations between the HSE and the developer. 

Minister Dara Calleary said that, when open, the primary care centre ‘will ease a certain amount of pressure from the Emergency Department at Mayo University Hospital’. MUH has recently reported a high number of patients on trolleys following a spike in respiratory illnesses. 

Minister Calleary estimated that the project would be completed by June with handover in late summer. 

“I will continue to liaise with HSE management to ensure this happens,” said Minister Calleary.  

The delays to the project have been criticised on numerous occasions by local councillors and TDs. 

The HSE has said 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.