The HSE has been asked to meet Killarney Municipal District councillors, before those councillors discuss the next steps for the Áras Phádraig site.
Plans for the redevelopment of the site were unveiled in 2021, to include a new theatre with exhibition space, meeting rooms and an outdoor public plaza with a HSE-run primary care centre and car park.
The HSE committed to getting the primary care centre built on the site, within a three-year construction timeline.
In February this year, Killarney councillors unanimously approved planning permission for the redevelopment of the site at a special MD meeting.
At the recent Killarney MD meeting, Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae asked the council to provide clarity as to why the HSE’s plans for a primary care clinic formed part of the Áras Phádraig Redevelopment Project.
In response, the council said the primary care centre is key to generating a socio-economic benefit for the project, and if it was removed, the project would not have this socio-economic benefit.
Cllr Healy-Rae said the reason for the inclusion of the primary care centre is not resonating with people.
Labour councillor Marie Moloney said the land was not gifted to the council, contrary to some reports out there, but the council bought the land at market value.
Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said a primary care centre and a theatre are miles apart, and people going to a show aren’t going to go in for an eye appointment as well, or vice versa.
The project went out for public consultation and received submissions, but an error meant it had to go out for a second public consultation, which has now also closed.
Councillors in Killarney are due to hold a meeting at the end of July to discuss the submissions and observations made, but several councillors said they did not want to go ahead with this meeting until they had met with the HSE.
The council’s Director of Roads, Frank Hartnett, said he had met with the HSE, he relayed their concerns, and he asked them to meet the Killarney councillors.
Mr Hartnett said a response to that request was still awaited.
