*The primary care centre on Station Rd is the only one of four Clare facilities first announced in 2021 to have opened.
COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS for the delivery of primary care centres in Ennistymon and Sixmilebridge are to be finalised this year, HSE officials have said.
In 2021, four primary care centres were proposed for Co Clare but to date only the facility on the Station Rd in Ennis has come to fruition.
Minister of State at the Department of Health, Hildegarde Naughton (FG) in February 2023 said the projects in Ennistymon and Sixmilebridge were progressing well but on the ground little visible advancement has been observed.
Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) requested a status update on the planned development of all primary care centres in the county at a meeting of the Regional Health Forum.
Chief Officer with HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, Maria Bridgeman responded, “The HSE has recently completed a review of the Operational lease Model approach for the delivery of Primary Care Centre Accommodation at national level. This was driven by concerns about the financial viability of existing priced offers and also the desire to update and strengthen the scheme. It is now intended to reactivate locations which have not advanced in recent times.
“Both Sixmilebridge and Ennistymon have previously been advertised for delivery of primary care accommodation. Both locations are being prioritised for progression with a view to concluding commercial agreements during 2024. Where appropriate this may include re-advertisement of a location to enable updated submissions reflecting current market conditions”.
Ms Bridgeman did not mention the Tulla Rd facility and wasn’t questioned on the matter either. She said discussions were ongoing with a view to progressing the construction of an additional top floor for the Station Rd primary care centre in 2024.
Speaking in response, Cllr Murphy said he tabled the query on behalf of Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) and Cllr Shane Talty (FF). “My two colleagues will be very happy to see some movement, maybe Maria might come back to me with some conversation on where we’re going”.
During the third quarter of 2023, the HSE were due to undertake a priced offer process for the Sixmilebridge primary care centre. Planning had been approved for the primary care centre but an issue with the sale over the identified land at Ashview Drive had halted development resulting in an over-year long delay. Years of uncertainty have clouded the project due to the legal issues between the HSE and its developer. Planning was first lodged in March 2019 for the 1,600 square metre two-storey care centre.
