'Air of optimism' as long-awaited project gets underway again
Cllr Alma Gallagher has welcomed the news.
After a four-year delay, work has resumed on the Ballyhaunis Primary Healthcare Centre with an expected completion date this year.
The HSE has confirmed a completion date of May 2025 for the long-awaited centre, which will include GP services, public health nursing, occupational and physiotherapy services, dental, home support and integrated care services. The building is to be handed over to the HSE two months following this completion date.
Local councillor Alma Gallagher told the that the news has been greatly welcomed in the locality and the new year has begun with "an air of optimism".
“This is great news for the people of Ballyhaunis to have these services within walking distance just on their doorstep really and it is great too for the surrounding East Mayo region,” she said. “We have been fighting for this for four years and the whole process has shown flaws with the structure of leases and how developers can down tools and go to other projects, but after an intense year campaigning, we are back on track.”
Site clearance works have now been completed and ancillary works are to start with mechanical and electrical contractors engaged.
Cllr Gallagher said a lot of the services that will come under the roof of the new premises are currently being subcontracted out to other buildings within the community and the primary care centre will now serve as a one-stop-shop for the people of Ballyhaunis. She called on the HSE to ensure the building is adequately staffed and ready to serve the community once it is handed over to the HSE.
“The site is in an ideal location beside the existing GP service. There is adequate parking and we need it to be a one-stop-shop for the people of Ballyhaunis,” she said. “My role as a public representative is to ensure that the Ballyhaunis Primary Health Care Centre remains on the agenda of the HSE West Forum and at the next meeting I will be calling on the HSE to produce a schedule of works to underline its commitment to the people of Ballyhaunis.”
Minister Dara Calleary said he will also continue to put pressure on the HSE to deliver the project on schedule.
