HSE plan to sell Kildare building earmarked for older person's centre

"Shame", "disgrace", "really disappointing" and "outrageous". These are some of the reactions across Kilcullen to reports that the HSE plans to sell, on the open market, a building earmarked for an older persons’ day centre.

The building, known as the Teach na nDaoine project, is a former derelict dispensary which was refurbished and extended by the community with the help of council and state grants, local fundraising over seven years, and contributions of expertise and labour by local people.

Anger about the plan to sell it is likely to badly tarnish the reputation of the state health agency, especially as agreement had been reached for Kildare County Council to take over the premises and complete bringing it up to standard as a day centre for Kilcullen's older and isolated people.

Describing the idea of a sale as “an awful shame and disgrace”, local woman Sabina Reddy says a facility for older people is definitely needed in Kilcullen and the work done so far was for that purpose.

"We are a growing town, but so are Naas and Newbridge, therefore it will be harder to secure places in their day centres. It will be very short-sighted by the HSE if this is put up for sale."

Caroline Walker Strong, chief operations officer of the Irish Association of Social Workers, says the development is “really disappointing”.

"With everything going on in older care and adult safeguarding we should be actively seeking mechanisms to keep people in their home communities with home and community supports."

Longtime Kilcullen resident Eugene Brennan says putting something on the open market puts it at the mercy of the price being ridiculously inflated.

"Or maybe that's what the HSE hope will happen so they can cash in on it," he suggested. "Which would be outrageous."

Another resident, Pabo L Reade, described the prospect as "a poor show from the HSE after all the local fundraising, 'Buy a Brick' etc, that the 

that the fantastic wee community of Kilcullen has done".

Businesswoman Nichola Kennedy said it would be a real pity if the building was sold on after it had been refurbished voluntarily and by local donations.

The project got underway in 2017 after a local voluntary committee agreed a lease of the unused building with the HSE. 

At first, it was intended only to refurbish it, but the project was expanded to include a modern extension. Of the €164,407 spent on the project, 71 percent was provided by grants. 

The building was handed back to the HSE late last year by the committee because they didn't have the governance structure or the expertise to manage the facility as a seniors centre. 

At that time, it was understood that eventual use of the property would be overseen by the HSE Older Persons section.

The reported change of mind by the HSE has been greeted with dismay 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.

“The council is prepared to acquire the building but not at open market value," she said. "I understand that the council will get first refusal when it goes for sale, but at market price. Given the supports already invested in building, they don’t have a budget to pay open market value.” 

The HSE had tried to sell the building to the council during initial discussions, but following the discovery that the council actually owns the land under the building, an agreed transfer of the property to the local authority was reported in April to be going through solicitors. However, there appears to have been change of heart by the HSE.

Councillors had also agreed to provide €180,000 over three years to bring the building up to standard for an older persons’ centre.

If there is a sale, a question will certainly arise over reimbursement of the money spent by the community, particularly the more than €116,000 in supports which came from the Town & Village Grant, National Lottery, Community Festival Grant, HSE Community and Voluntary Support Grant, CEP 2018, and the Community Support Fund.

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 was requested for a statement on the reported sale plan. At the time of writing, no response of any kind has been received.