Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Foley, for making an extra effort to be here today. I understand that she had an earlier engagement. It is genuinely appreciated by all of us.

The question in front of us is very simple. It relates to land ultimately in the control of her Department that was to be transferred to the HSE for the purposes of a primary care centre. I have been active in this constituency for over a decade. This issue has been going on longer than my time there. We are very keen to see how the Minister can assist us and the HSE in releasing that land so that the community in north Clondalkin gets the primary care centre it deserves.

It is a strong and vibrant community, but also one that experiences significant socioeconomic disadvantage. Therefore, the delay in this facility has all sorts of additional consequences. I urge the Minister to work with the cross-party delegation of Deputies to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible and allow the HSE to proceed with the primary care centre that the local community so desperately needs.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking the time to address this matter. A state-of-the-art primary healthcare centre is badly needed in north Clondalkin. As Deputy Ó Broin mentioned, this situation has been ongoing for a long time. In 2015, there was an agreement between the Department of Education and the HSE on the transfer of lands at Collinstown Park Community College. Planning permission was granted in 2018 for the construction of a two-storey primary care centre. We are now in 2022 and not a sod of earth has been turned despite planning permission, fire safety certificates and disability access certificates having been granted. All of the groundwork has been done, so the delay is unacceptable. Two arms of the State seem to be delaying the process. The centre is much needed by the people of north Clondalkin. What is the delay and can the Minister do anything to ensure that the project is not delayed any further and people can get this much-needed service?

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My constituency colleagues have outlined the problem and we are all united in our desire for action on it. The centre has been planned for years and the local community is desperate to have it delivered. The centre will offer speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, a dental suite, a paediatric suite, GP suites and a mental health suite. These are much-needed services in the local community. Having no location for them is becoming an obstacle because it is a barrier to hiring and assigning healthcare professionals to the area. The sooner the transfer of land can happen, the sooner we can get the ball rolling on delivering this much-needed facility, which will have a major impact on the ground in north Clondalkin.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking this important matter. The primary care centre in question was earmarked ten years ago, and probably longer. Deputy Ward and I have lived in that area. The current health centre in Rowlagh is antiquated for north Clondalkin's population of nearly 20,000. More than five years ago, 35 primary care centres around the State were earmarked and meant to be completed. At this moment, however, nothing has been done as regards the Collinstown site.

Judging from the response to a parliamentary question, there is obviously an issue with the transfer of land from the Department of Education to the HSE. That may be the case, but the people who are being disadvantaged are those who live in the area. They need this healthcare centre as soon as possible. I hope the Minister will clarify the matter.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Ó Broin, Ward, Gino Kenny and Higgins for providing me the opportunity to update the House on the transfer of lands and the provision of a primary healthcare facility at Collinstown Park Community College in Clondalkin. I acknowledge that there is unanimity among the Deputies and I appreciate the passion with which they speak and the necessity for their constituents.

The HSE has been seeking to acquire a site for a primary care centre at Collinstown Park Community College. This school site is in the ownership of the Minister for Education. Discussions have taken place with the HSE regarding the disposal of part of the site to the HSE for the development of the primary care centre. Discussions between the HSE and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board, DDLETB, have been ongoing for a number of years and, more recently, with my Department. The initial proposal developed from an engagement between DDLETB, the school and the HSE was that the HSE would construct a facility adjoining the primary care centre for the use of the school. The site for this development is separated from the main school building by an internal access road. Initially, this facility was intended to be a library, but it then evolved into a multifunctional space that could be subdivided, if required.

Following a review of the proposal by my Department in consultation with the HSE and ETB, it was determined that the provision of additional facilities for the school that adjoined the main school building would be more effective and provide a value-for-money solution. The Department of Education has engaged with the HSE and the ETB concerning the delivery of the facilities at their revised location adjoining the school as part of the disposal agreement.

Following further engagement with the HSE and ETB, I am pleased that it has now been decided that the disposal of the site for the primary care centre will proceed separate from delivery of the facilities to the school. This is a significant positive. My Department will proceed to progress the disposal of the site to the HSE in line with the protocols for the disposal of sites between State bodies and subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Department of Education is in discussions with the ETB regarding the provision of additional facilities for the school. The ETB will be submitting an application for the proposed additional facilities shortly and this application will be processed promptly upon receipt. It is anticipated that the Department will be in a position to advise the school and HSE of the outcome of this engagement with the ETB soon.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It is always good to get positive news, even if it is only half of the way. That the transfer to the HSE will proceed is welcome. I invite the Minister to go a step further and try to give the four Deputies present an indicative timeline for the transfer and indicate whether she anticipates a speedy approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Crucially, if we had a notional timeline for when the transfer would take place, that would keep all of us content this evening.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome that the disposal of the site for the development of a primary care centre in Collinstown will proceed. To echo Deputy Ó Broin, having the timeline would be very welcome. People have been in touch with me left, right and centre about this service. Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology services and so on, which are not available in the north Clondalkin area current, could be available in this centre.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply and for her acknowledgement of how significant an issue this is locally. It is great to hear that a decision on the disposal of the site has been reached. I ask the Minister to ensure that the disposal is seen through as urgently as possible.

I welcome confirmation of the additional facilities for Collinstown Park Community College. I urge the Minister to ensure, as she has committed to, there is an adjudication on the funding and planning as soon as possible so that the services are delivered in tandem.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the response but it was slightly ambiguous. It still does not give clarity as to when this will happen. We could have been discussing this matter five years ago and the same answer might have been given. I am slightly concerned about the ambiguous nature of the Minister's response. At the end of the day, the people who will benefit are the people of north Clondalkin, who badly need this centre. I suspect that, if this were to happen in a more affluent area of Dublin, there would be a different response.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to be clear, as there is no ambiguity in this. To be fair, I have had a short amount of time to move this project along. It is a progressive and positive step, and should be acknowledged as such, that the disposal of the site for the development of the primary care centre will proceed separately from the delivery of facilities to the school. This means that there is now the impetus for that project to move ahead.

I appreciate how the timeline is an issue for the Deputies' constituents. The Department will proceed to finalise the head of terms with the HSE for the disposal of the site. The Department will also obtain the necessary sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the disposal of the property. As with all property disposals, due diligence is required, which the Deputies will appreciate. This can give rise to added complexities. Therefore, it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe. However, the Department can provide the HSE with the necessary licences to enable it to commence development work on the site pending completion of the sale. That is fair progress. In tandem with that, my Department will process the application from the ETB for additional facilities for the school.

I can confirm to the Deputies that officials in my Department will endeavour to progress and expedite both matters as quickly as possible. This is significant progress for both projects, which are of particular significance to the Deputies' constituents.