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Kenmare Hospital Construction will commence on October 15th |
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Written by MD
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Tuesday, 13 September 2011 00:00 |
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I am delighted to report that Glenbeigh Construction will commence construction of our long sought-after hospital on October 15th. The Resident Engineer for the project has been officially appointed, which in itself, marks another important step forward in what has already been a long and dedicated campaign. But by no means does this mark the end of the community’s participation in the next phase of the project.
This hospital will not only serve our entire community, but symbolise the hard work and dedication of its people. As such, I have asked Glenbeigh construction and their architect to attend a public meeting, which I hope will take place in October, where the public can voice their opinions and ask questions on the new Hospital. This will ensure that the local people who campaigned for this project are directly involved at every step along the way.
A particular issue to be discussed at this public meeting is that of the future of the old hospital. Initially, most of the old hospital was to be retained, but since then, there has been a proposal to demolish the existing structure. The local community's ideas on what is best for the area will be an important aspect of this meeting; and it is crucial that we weigh our options carefully. Perhaps it would be better to maximise the facilities and land uses left to us by the original structure than to hastily tear it down. It is viral that we consider all of the possibilities available to us at this meeting, and I would urge all of you to attend the meeting and ensure that your voice is heard.
With a planned 70 week construction stage on this €7.3 million euro development, it will now be early 2012 before the hospital is complete. Glenbeigh Construction has not yet allocated any sub-contracts for the new hospital and it is my aim to try and get as many local sub contractors employed in the building of the New Hospital as possible.
As you are all aware, this project was not without its many moments of uncertainty. Ambiguity about the Hospital’s inclusion in the HSE’s ‘Capital plan’, the subsequent amendments to that same plan in July and reports of cuts to funding for the building have all plagued the project over the last few months. However, in light of the legally binding agreement which I helped to negotiate between Glenbeigh Construction and the HSE, and now, the great news that October 15th has been penned for the commencement of construction; funding for the construction will continue until this project takes it physical form and is totally completed.
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