Local Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley has said that the HSE have changed plans again for the third time on Mountrath Health Centre.
Outlining the updated situation, Deputy Stanley says that he has been in contact with the HSE on the need for a larger and more modern centre in Mountrath for the last three years.
Deputy Stanley said: “This is very frustrating news, as it has resulted in a complete lack of progress.”
According to the Laois TD, in March 2023, the HSE property section informed him that they could not expand or upgrade the existing health centre on the Link Road as they said that ‘there are two right of ways going through the HSE site’ and it ‘being too tight’ was deemed ‘not suitable for expansion’.
Deputy Stanley said: “They also said that ‘any relocation would have to be a leased building and in the absence of an alternative site, no alternative viable sites were identified’. However, all has now changed again.
“The property section of the HSE were actively pursuing a site belonging to Laois County Council on the Portlaoise Road in 2022 and 2023, but after more than a year considering this, it was deemed that the site was at risk of flooding.
“They then moved to try and acquire a site on the Castletown Road which would have been very suitable for the location of a Health Centre, in terms of access and parking etc, and this has subsequently been ruled out.
“A third site that I was approached in relation to, and which would have more than catered for the Health Centre, substantial parking, and is very accessible to the town centre, was also offered and most likely would have come at a very reasonable price, this has also been rejected.
“With all three sites having now been turned down, incredibly the HSE are now reverting to the extension and refurbishment of the existing Health Centre on the Link Road.
“They say they are ‘now completing the relevant forms for the Department of Health to have that approved’.
“This is despite the fact that the HSE deemed this to be impossible over three years ago.
“I have now contacted the HSE Chief Bernard Gloucester to request that the provision of a proper health centre for Mountrath town and surrounding areas be progressed without further delay.”
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