Fears raised that funding for Nazareth House project may be “pulled”

FEARS that millions of euros earmarked to complete the final phase of a major programme of redevelopment at Nazareth House may be “pulled” to allow the HSE cover overspend on other programmes at national level were raised this week.

Cllr Thomas Walsh told members of Sligo County Council this week he received information from unnamed HSE staff in recent days who had told him they understood the final €8 million phase of funding for work at Nazareth House in Sligo “could be pulled” due to shortfalls and overspend in other areas nationally by the

HSE.

He said if that is the case it is simply not good enough, adding that the monies were intended for what he described as “the final phase of the Nazareth House project”.

The Fine Gael councillor has asked his local authority to contact the Director of the HSE relevant to the final phase of the capital programme at Nazareth House, Sligo and when the €16.7 million will be provided for the capital build that is anticipated in 2024.

He also asked that the content of his motion would be brought to the attention of the Saolta Chief Officer, The Taoiseach and Tanáiste for a reply.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of

Sligo County Council other councillors supported his call and expressed their concern that the funding might be stalled or diverted from completion of work at Nazareth House.

Cllr Walsh said he understood that correspondence was issued in October 2023 by the HSE for approval of the final phase of the capital build project at Nazareth House.

He said the current status of the project is that all stages of design are completed, a capital submission has been completed and a fire certification application has also been completed.

“This is a ‘shovel-ready’ project, it is ready to go. It will have a huge impact on children’s services if this build does not go ahead. There will be no primary care team in Nazareth House which is due to move there, there will be no physio gymnasium which is due to be put in place in the final phase while public health nursing is to be relocated there in the final phase of this project also,” he said.

Other services to be housed in the final phase of the project include podiatry and dental services.

“This is extremely concerning. We got good news on one hand in relation to the 42-block medical unit at Sligo University Hospital where enabling and car park works are almost complete.

“If it is a situation where one part of the HSE overspends results in us down in Sligo having funding pulled on a critical project with a total spend of €16.7 million which the HSE has committed to with the funding to be spent this year I would call on all the TDs in this area to ensure this is not the case and that the project is allowed to go ahead at Nazareth House,” he said.

Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady said it is hugely important that a letter is sent as suggested to the Taoiseach and others. “It’s important that we are not punished because of an overspend in some other area,” she said.

The Sligo Weekender has sought a response from the HSE which will be published when/if received.