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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HSE requested to 'come back to the table' on Teach na nDaoine

The HSE has been called on to 'do the right thing' and transfer the Teach na nDaoine project building in Kilcullen to Kildare County Council for community use, writes Brian Byrne. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer made the request while speaking on KFM Radio about the reported plans by the health authority to sell the building at market price.

Speaking to Eoin Beatty on the Kildare Today programme, (from 15'30" on this link), the councillor said the premises could be used not just as a day centre for older people as already envisaged, but also for after-school care and other community uses, including a possibility as a 'home' for Kilcullen Community Action.

She reminded the programme's listeners that Kilcullen had already invested more than €164,000 in refurbishing and expanding what had been a derelict former dispensary building, 'surplus to requirements' to the HSE. She also noted that similar transfers had been made by the health authority in other areas, citing the former dispensary in Monasterevin as being a possible example. She reiterated that Kildare County Council had no funds to buy the property at open market prices, but would be prepared to pay a nominal charge. 

Funding of €180,000 from Local Property Tax has been secured to finish bringing the building up to code for use as an older persons centre, she said, adding that 25 people from the Kilcullen area were being brought to the day care centre in Newbridge every Thursday and Friday, where there was also a waitlist. "It makes no sense for me that we have people going from Kilcullen to Newbridge when we could potentially have the same facility in Kilcullen and free up that waitlist at the same time."

Cllr O'Dwyer said she had been negotiating over the last two years between the HSE and the council and at no time was buying the building proposed until recent weeks. "So to be this close to making it happen, and then to be suddenly aware that estate agents are just waiting on an instruction to put it to market, it is really just the wrong thing to do." 

Restating the urgent need for such a community building in Kilcullen, where the population is growing, she told Eoin Beatty that the reaction has been unanimous, and local people are "just up in arms about this."

She expressed her disappointment that the HSE hasn't responded to multiple requests for clarification on the issue, and said they need to 'come back to the table and engage meaningfully' to do the right thing. "The right thing here is to transfer the building to Kildare County Council for community use, and I really hope that's what they do."

READ: HSE sale threat to Teach na nDaoine council plan 

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HSE sale threat to Teach na nDaoine council plan

Teach na nDaoine, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer disappointed at sale plan.

A plan for Kildare County Council to acquire the Teach na nDaoine project building to use as a social facility for older people may be stymied by the HSE putting it up for sale on the open market, writes Brian Byrne. This is despite the fact that in April it appeared that agreement had been reached with the council on a transfer of the property. 

The building was handed back to the HSE late last year by the voluntary committee who had refurbished and extended the original Dispensary premises at a cost of €164,407, because they didn't have the expertise to manage the facility for their purpose as a seniors centre.

The reported change of mind by the HSE has been greeted with disappointment by Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer, who has worked since last year to have the council take over the property. Her case included the fact that a significant number of Kilcullen seniors are transported each week to Newbridge Day Care Centre. “I understand that the council will get first refusal when it goes for sale, but at market price,” she says of the latest move. “We just don’t have the money for that.”

In initial discussions, the HSE had previously tried to sell the building to the council, but following the discovery that KCC actually owns the land under the building, an agreed transfer of the property to the authority was reported in April to be 'going through solicitors'. Councillors had in the meantime agreed to provide €180,000 over three years to bring the building up to standard for an older persons centre.

The apparent about-turn will also cause significant dismay across the Kilcullen community, which has supported many fundraising events for the project, first mooted in 2015. It got underway in 2017 after the local committee agreed a lease of the building with the HSE.

At first, it was intended only to refurbish the original building, but the project was expanded to include a modern extension to the side and rear of the former Dispensary. 

Of the €164,407 spent on it, 71 percent was provided by grants. The balance came from local fundraising and donations. People with construction skills also contributed time and expertise to the project. If there is a sale, a question will certainly arise over the reimbursement of the money spent by the community, particularly the more than €116,000 in grants.

The completed building now includes a lounge, a dining room, a meeting room, an activity area, a kitchen, and two cloakrooms. The rooms have been furnished, and the property is an inviting environment designed to serve the community’s senior residents, if the facility can be operated as such. 

The HSE's property management department has been asked for a statement on the reported sale plan.

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Council asked to take over Teach na nDaoine

A proposal to Kildare County Council to take over the renovated and extended former Dispensary for a Senior Citizens Social Centre in Kilcullen has been made by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne. The building was handed back to the HSE late last year by the voluntary committee who refurbished it under the Teach na nDaoine project, as they don't have the necessary expertise to manage the centre under increasing governance requirements.

Through 2024, Cllr O'Dwyer met with the various stakeholders to highlight the need for a social centre for seniors in the town, many of whom are transported each week to Newbridge Day Care. "Currently the HSE do not have the capacity to deliver a Senior Citizens Social Centre in Kilcullen," she says. "There is a significant need for such a centre where people can drop in for a chat, a cuppa and social events with the potential for other groups to rent the space in the evening and this is the proposal I pitched to the Council."

The councillor says she will continue to work with both parties to hopefully retain the building for use as a seniors social centre.

Originally it was intended to only refurbish the original building, with the idea of providing a drop-in social centre for older people, especially for those who might feel isolated. But the project, first mooted in 2015 with construction work beginning in 2017, was expanded to include a major modern extension to the side and rear of the former Dispensary. The completed building now includes a lounge, a dining room, a meeting room, a versatile activity area, a kitchen, and two cloakrooms, all finished to a high standard. The rooms have been furnished, creating an inviting environment designed to serve the community’s senior residents, if the facility can be operated as such. 

To date, €164,407 has been spent on the project, 71pc was funded by grants and the balance came from local fundraising and donations.  

 

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Call for Covid-19 Volunteers registration with GAA/HSE

A joint HSE/GAA scheme to set up a database of volunteers with various trades and skills is being set up across the country including identified areas across County Kildare.

These volunteers may be able to support HSE administered local facilities over the next number of weeks. In particular, the following skills sets have been identified as part of contingency planning requirements:

All trades, men or women, including Electrician, Plumber, Carpentry etc; IT Specialists; Cleaners; Teachers; Special Needs Assistants; Chefs; Caterers; Drivers; Train the Trainers qualified personnel.

In addition, retired Military and Gardai and others with a similar background in Crisis Management Operations are being requested for their background and skills in scheduling, mobilisation and coordination tasks that may arise.

Kilcullen is in Kildare Region 3, centred around Straffan, Naas, Sallins, and Kill. The Regional Point of Contact is David Murphy, David.murphy.gda.kildare@gaa.ie.

All volunteers are also encouraged to sign up to ‘On Call for Ireland’ in addition to this HSE/GAA local initiative. All volunteer support will be requested by HSE as required.

In addition to the above regarding Volunteers, Clubs are also asked to support this fight by offering your facilities as additional testing centres, if required. HSE will then determine suitability of facilities for this task later.

Clubs are requested to promote this initiative with their members and communities and anyone interested in volunteering should submit their details to your point of contact over the next 5–7 days.

The details are Club Name, Volunteer Name, Date of Birth, Address, Gender, Email address, and Mobile Contact Number.

Details should also be provided of Profession or Official Qualification with skills in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points — Food Safety, Manual Handling, Children First, Basic Life Support, First Aid, Fire Training, Safeguarding training, Date of Garda Vetting if completed.

HSE Garda Vetting will also be required for any individuals working with vulnerable members of our communities.

Availability windows should also be included — Named days and time if applicable. Volunteers need to consider that they may not be requested for next three weeks until the surge. Any other details that you feel relevant should also be given.

EDITOR NOTE: If you're out shopping or walking, do PLEASE observe social distancing. If your teenagers are going out, remind them that while they may not suffer much from covid-19, bringing it home to their family could kill someone who loves them.

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Suicide intervention course

The Lions Club are providing a two-day suicide intervention workshop in Kilcullen on the weekend of 21/22 April, in the MacMahon Centre.

The ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) event is in conjunction with the HSE and is suitable for community members, workers, and volunteers working and concerned about suicide in the community.

It's an intensive, interactive workshop where participants develop their skills through interactive and trainer lead group work and simulations. ASIST is designed to help caregivers become more ready, willing and able to help persons at risk of suicide.

The course runs each day from 9am-5pm and certification only comes with full completion of the course.

Email Carmel Gleeson, Kilcullen Lions Club or phone 087 9026102.


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Primary Care Centre next year

Kilcullen will have a dedicated Health Primary Care Centre up and running in the second half of next year, the first meeting of the 'Kilcullen 2017' development plan implementation group was told last night, writes Brian Byrne.

The Centre will be located on a site between The Hideout and the Parish Church car park, and will bring together a number of services currently located in different parts of the town, including GPs, Public Health Nurse, and Community Physiotherapist. There will also be facilities for Psychological, Social Work and Home Help services.

The facility will be a public/private partnership, and Siobhan Murphy of the HSE told the meeting that the developer has already received the required commitment from local GPs that they will move operations to the Centre.

Ms Murphy said that having a dedicated Primary Care Centre will provide the opportunity to introduce other services, although this will depend on resources. "It's no secret that our services are thin on the ground at the moment," she noted.


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