Viewpoint: HSE, stop digging a hole under Teach na nDaoine

There’s a strategy, and not a good one: when you know you’re in a hole, keep digging, because it makes it harder for people to get to you. Which is what the HSE is doing in relation to Teach na nDaoine in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. The health authority’s latest riposte, to a second public appeal to negotiate the transfer of the facility to Kildare County Council for community use, is to double down on its plan to sell to the highest bidder. 

That was its response today after Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer once again appealed publicly on KFM radio for the health body to get back around a table with the council and do a deal that isn’t profiteering from community goodwill.

A committee of local people refurbished and extended the derelict former dispensary, for use as an older persons day centre, with the help of state money and donations from the public. The project almost completed, it was handed back to the HSE because the committee didn’t have the governance setup or expertise to run it for the planned purpose, with the expectation that the HSE would do so in some form, possibly with Kildare County Council. There had also been issues in getting a full lease from the health authority. 

The HSE, despite having been in negotiations with Kildare County Council over a considerable time for KCC to take it over for community use, suddenly decided to sell the property on the open market. KCC can’t afford to buy it but is still very interested in a transfer at a nominal charge, given that considerable council funds will have to be invested on top of the €164,407 already spent bringing the facility to it’s now almost-usable state.

In spite of both private and public statements that the council continues to be open to a deal, the HSE insists to the contrary, saying that “it was confirmed by KCC to the HSE in July 2025 that they are not intending to progress acquisition of this property” via an intra-state transfer. And that consequently it is initiating proceedings “for a disposal of the property at Open Market sale.” 

Both the Diary and KFM have statements from the council that it wants to acquire the facility. Cllr O’Dwyer, who has been working for a long time to bring both sides together, has gone on air twice and been in print and online media several times in recent weeks, saying the council remains very interested.

Someone in the HSE isn’t listening. Or they don’t want to hear, and they keep digging that hole deeper so they don’t.

People in Kilcullen, who are not in the habit of digging unnecessary holes, are increasingly unhappy.

If the HSE doesn’t come out of its hole and engage, the next likely step will be people on the street outside the Teach na nDaoine. That won’t be pretty, for the HSE. And it is SO unnecessary.

Stop digging. Start talking.

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