Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The construction of a new health centre on Inishbofin was identified as a priority for the provision of health services under the CLÁR programme to the island population in 2003. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which had responsibility for the islands at that time, indicated that there was support for the Inishbofin project under the 2004-05 programme.

The then Western Health Board, now HSE West, undertook to advance the project as the main stakeholder by procuring and appointing a design team. The project was developed and planning permission was granted in November 2008. However, co-funding remained an issue and, to date, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which now has responsibility for the islands, has not agreed to co-fund the project.

Nevertheless, the HSE has continued to try to progress matters by endeavouring to secure the proposed site by purchasing required additional land adjoining the current site. The estates department in HSE West is actively pursuing the acquisition of the adjoining site. Once this process has been concluded, a request for co-funding for the project will be sent to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Meanwhile, an extension to the current planning permission for a further five years is being sought.

See this speech in context