Council asked to sell green area for healthcare building

Date Published: 25-Jul-2011

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Galway City Council has been approached by a private operator to sell a greenfield site on Seamus Quirke Road for a new primary healthcare facility.

The land – which is between the rear entrance of University Hospital Galway and Arch Motors – is owned by the local authority, which proposes to use the funds to develop community facilities in the Westside and Shantalla.

Dublin-based Merit Healthcare is planning to purchase and develop the site, as well as providing a GP service, while the HSE West is understood to be supportive of providing community services.

Interim City Manager Joe O’Neill has written to the four councillors in the Galway City Central ward for their opinions on the proposal.

The healthcare facility would be for the local community, and would enable the HSE to provide a range of services from a centralised location, with GPs, nurses, therapists, social workers and homecare staff based within.

Mr O’Neill said the land indicated on the map (pictured on right) is only an “indicative drawing” and does not represent any final layout.

“It comprises part of the area behind the playing pitch and between Arch Motors and the carpark in UHG. Any sale of the land would be conditional on the relevant part of the site being rezoned, and on planning permission being obtained.

“This proposal merits consideration by the Council because it would provide a primary healthcare facility for the local community, comprising GPs, nurses, therapists, social workers and homecare staff; it would not compromise the use of the playing pitch, nor would it negatively impact on the development of the remaining green area for amenity use; the proceeds from the sale of the land would help the Council to fund the playing pitches at Corrib Park and Westside, and to fund upgrading the green area behind Shantalla Community Centre,” Mr O’Neill wrote.

Local councillor Padraig Conneely has asked Mr O’Neill for further information on the plans, including the proposed purchase price.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel