Could Saolta claim squatters’ rights at Shantalla helipad?

Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column with Dara Bradley

This November will mark the ninth anniversary of when the Saolta University Hospital Group gave a commitment to the people of Shantalla about public land it borrowed.

Tony Canavan, the then Chief Operating Officer, and now CEO of Saolta, said that the land would be used to accommodate a helipad at the rear of University Hospital Galway for six months only.

Mr Canavan has previously conceded that this promise was broken and that it was never envisaged the land would be needed for more than six months.

It’s now over eight years and so to call it a “temporary” arrangement, which is what the people were told it would be, stretches credulity.

Leaving aside the need for a helipad, which is not disputed, what nasty neighbours Saolta have proved. Why would Shantalla residents trust Saolta again?

And there is no end in sight to this saga.

In a written response to questions submitted by Deputy Mayor, Martina O’Connor (Green) at the latest HSE West Regional Health Forum, Saolta gave no indication if or when the land will be returned to the community.

Joe Hoare, Assistant National Director for HSE Capital and Estates West, said: “The options in respect of helipad facilities adjacent to University Hospital Galway, both in the immediate future and in the longer term are currently under review.

“The HSE intends to engage with Galway City Council in the coming months and put forward proposals for consideration. An update can be provided in due course.”

The neck is breathtaking.

‘Yes, we’ve held this plot of land for eight years more than we said we would but we need another few months to come up with a plan to see how we can keep it’, seems to be the attitude.

It’s going on so long now that Galway City Council would want to make sure Saolta and the HSE don’t have squatters’ rights.

If the HSE or Saolta borrowed your back garden for six months, but had not given it back eight years later, you’d have called Gardaí and/or a solicitor. But what exactly is City Council management doing about it; why so lackadaisical when it comes to public property?

(Photo: Cllr Martina O’Connor questioned Saolta’s ‘land grab’ in Shantalla)

This is a shortened preview version of Bradley Bytes. See this week’s Galway City Tribune for more. You can buy a digital edition HERE.