Fifteen years after An Cheathrú Rua was identified as a priority location for a HSE primary care centre, nothing has happened.
This is according to Sinn Féin activist Kevin O’Hara, who made a Freedom of Information request to the HSE about a medical facility for the South Connemara district of County Galway.
“The consistent failure to invest in primary and community care in a timely manner places a major burden on the hospital system, and on the communities who are forced to drive long distances to access healthcare that should be available in their own community,” said O’Hara, who confirmed he will contest the Sinn Féin convention for the Galway West by-election. Spiddal native O’Hara ran unsuccessfully for Galway County Council for Sinn Féin in the 2019 and 2024 local elections.
The HSE says it remains committed to the delivery of a primary care centre for South Connemara. HSE West was to submit a business case to HSE Capital & Estates to plan a facility in the region of South Connemara by 2025, but this timeline has been extended into 2026.
A full primary care centre to replace the tiny Connemara facility in Oughterard is expected by 2029, while construction began last month for a €50 million, four-story primary care centre for Galway City West on the former T O’Higgins site on Seamus Quirke Road. It is expected to be open by 2028.
The HSE is reportedly searching for a suitable site in Headford for a primary care centre, while a new centre in Portumna has reportedly hit contractual difficulties.
Two years ago, the HSE purchased the former Aviva building in Knocknacarra for almost €12 million. It plans to repurpose it as a major primary care and administration centre, housing 100 staff.
