'HSE approach on Teach na nDaoine will change' - Martin Heydon

Kildare South TD and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon says he is determined that the HSE approach on the Teach na nDaoine issue 'will change', and he is raising the matter 'at the highest level', writes Brian Byrne. In a statement this morning, he expresses 'real disappointment' at the difficulty being experienced by Kildare County Council in acquiring the property for the people of Kilcullen.

The minister's intervention follows a second public appeal by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, on KFM radio yesterday, for the executive to negotiate the transfer of the facility to Kildare County Council for community use. After that, the HSE doubled down on its position that it intends to sell the property on the open market.

“Both myself and Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer support the continued vision of the use of this property for community use in Kilcullen," Minister Heydon says. "I continue to engage with the HSE to see if any avenues exist that could allow Kildare County Council to take on the project and facilitate its community use in Kilcullen."

He added that any agreement between the HSE and KCC needs to reflect the additional costs required to complete the building, and the goodwill of the local community to the project.

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