Local Fianna Fáil Deputy, Robert Troy, has called on the HSE to follow through on its long-standing commitment to develop a new ambulance base in Athlone.
The constituency elected representative made the remarks following confirmation from the HSE that a design team is set to be appointed in the third quarter of this year to progress the development of a new ambulance base in the growth town.
The HSE informed Deputy Troy, in response to a parliamentary question, last week that the first step in the design process will be "to assess the possibility of accommodating the base on the HSE owned site to the rear of the new Community Nursing Unit (CNU ) development in Clonbrusk".
"If this option is not possible due to the constraints of the site in Clonbrusk, as a second step, the HSE will explore other HSE owned sites in the locality.
“If no suitable HSE site can be identified, the HSE will then look to acquire a suitable site within the locality on which to develop a new ambulance base,” the HSE said.
Responding, Deputy Troy acknowledged the HSE update noting that such a development is now "long overdue".
"I appreciate the HSE providing an update on its plans to appoint a design team to design before the end of September to assess an appropriate location for the new ambulatory base.
"There has been a long-standing commitment from the HSE that it will relocate the existing base. But it's now long overdue. This delay is not acceptable and I am calling on the HSE to follow through on its commitment to develop a new base.
"If they don't have any suitable sites within the ownership of the HSE, they need to swiftly seek expressions of interests from other parties. This is going on for far too long," Deputy Troy asserted.
