Independent Cllr Liam Browne is calling for greater transparency as regards the work of the HSE Regional Forums which include local councillors.
The councillor says the HSE is failing Cashel and older people in it’s slow approach to delivering a long promised new 60 bed Community Nursing Unit in the town. The local Councillor asked for an update on the project at the Municipal District Meeting on Monday and was surprised to hear that the HSE is not going to submit a planning application for the site at Palmers Hill until the next Cashel Local Area Plan is devised.
Councillor Roger Kennedy shared this information which was provided by the HSE at the January Forum meeting. The situation is further complicated as the Cashel Local Area Plan update is paused under instructions from the Office of the Planning Regulator until new Planning Legislation is commenced which could take up to 8 months. Cllr Browne wants the HSE to proceed with a planning application and expects councillors could give approval by agreeing to amend the existing Local Area Plan specially for the project. Despite this option to use HSE owned land, Cllr Browne would favour the remodeling of Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel to provide the 60 rooms as the building is currently accommodating 40 residents that would be moved to the new unit. He describes Our Lady’s as a more central location that is capable of handling the expansion.
Cllr Roger Kennedy, Cllr Marie Murphy, Cllr David Dunne and Cllr Michael Smith are members of the HSE South Forum and Cllr Browne suggests that all councilors should get the minutes from the Forum meetings.
