Repairs to the storm-damaged and derelict St Brigid’s Hospital site in Ballinasloe are unlikely to be carried out because the HSE does not have a large maintenace budget, the Regional Health Forum was told this week.
Concern over the condition of the site was raised by local councillors Alan Harney and Evelyn Parsons, who both expressed their disquiet that the facility, although derelict, has been permitted to fall into such disrepair.
The forum was told that the HSE have reviewed recommendations put forward in the property evaluation report referenced and have agreed to progress with the sale of four of the five Lots identified in the report.
Lot 3, the Admissions Building, CNU and surrounding lands along the Creagh Road will not be offered for disposal at this point in time. All other property will be offered for disposal, said Niall Colleary, the HSE’s Assistant National Director for Capital & Estates.
“Disposals will be completed in accordance with the HSE’s Protocol for Acquisition & Disposal of Property, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform circulars and associated legislation. This requires property to be offered for disposal in the following sequence:
1. The Land Development Agency (LDA ) 2. Prescribed State Entities (Ref: DPER Circular 17/2016 ) 3. The open market
Mr Colleary added that the HSE will undertake a tender for an Agent to dispose of the properties in coming months with a view to offering the properties to the market in Q2 2025.
Cllr Harney reminded the forum that the HSE has a legal responsibility to maintain the property, and that there should not be any question but that the money be spent to make it safe and repair the roof so that the value of the property is maintained.
“These are protected structures so there is a legal onus on the HSE to spend the money to maintain them and not let them fall into disrepair,” he said.
Anne Cosgrove, Integrated Health Area Manager, Galway Roscommon said that in relation to Storm E?owyn; an assessment has been carried out to the St Brigid’s campus following the storm, and there were a number of trees that have fallen and localised damage to protective hoarding, which is being repaired/replaced by HSE maintenance.
“We are aware of the damage caused over the years with that building being vacant, unfortunately we have a limited maintenance budget, and to date no funding has been allocated to carry out repairs at St. Brigid’s, prioritisation of maintenance works will be given in our existing buildings in use by our services and facilities for our service users.”
Cllr Evelyn Parsons told the forum that the site is such a large landmass in the town, that Ballinasloe has been literally held to ransom by the absence of a plan for it. She added that the potential development of the facility would have in the past created many opportunities for the progression of the town, and that to date, this has not happened.
