The long awaited Swords Primary Care Centre is currently in limbo as the HSE and the developer row over rent.
Newspaper reports state that the Primary Care Centre project, which has planning permisison for Airside, has stalled as the developer claims that the agreed cost no longer make it economically viable.
The badly needed facility should have started construction a number of years ago but was delayed because of the Covid pandemic. Now, it is claimed, that the increase in construction costs has impacted the viability of the project under the agreed terms.
The HSE now say if the commercial operator cannot meet the terms whey will consider new sites for the delivery.
A spokesperson told the Sunday Independent:
“Should the preferred provider be unable to proceed, the HSE will be exploring all options to deliver a new primary care centre including potential site acquisitions for a development or re-advertisement.”
Cllr Ian Carey said:
“The real loser in this situation are the people of Swords.
“The provision of adequate healthcare in Swords is a matter of real urgency and all of the State’s powers should be used to provide an adequate central site for the delivery of this desperately needed healthcare facility.
“Commerical operators can add value in the delivery of infrastructure, but often what we are seeing is increased uncertainty and delays, especially in the delivery of healthcare and housing.
“In this instance, years are going by trying to move this project forward and all the while patients are dealing with delays for appointments or long trips to avail of services. It’s not acceptable.
“If the HSE were in control of an approapriate site the project would be progressing at pace. This is what we have seen when it comes to the delivery of homes in Swords, once the council acquired the site on the Rathbeale Rd that was earmarked for homes they have come forward with plans for significant delivery of houses within 12 months. These are lands that have sat in the hands of developers for 15 years with nothing delivered, despite extensive plans for the area.
“The local authority and the HSE need to put the patient first and work to the quickest possible delivery of this essential service.”
