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Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Kerry site which could undergo contentious development was ‘not gifted to the people of Killarney'
Labour Party councillor Marie Moloney said the KCC director of finance, Angela McAllen, confirmed that the local authority bought Áras Phádraig at market value and owns the property. Cllr Moloney asked KCC to clarify that the Lewis Road property had not been donated by the Franciscans, who previously announced their intention to gift it to the public but could not complete this legally. 'I'm asking ye to make a public statement that the land belongs to KCC and was not gifted to the people of Killarney. It's a very important issue,' Cllr Moloney said. The representative said posts in circulation on social media state that Áras Phádraig was donated to the people of Killarney. Cllr Moloney said Ms McAllen also told her that the HSE has confirmed that it will build a primary care centre at the site within three years. She said that Killarney's councillors are being 'absolutely slaughtered' on social media over the inclusion of the care centre in the proposed redevelopment of Áras Phádraig, which went out to public consultation earlier this year. The development would see the existing Áras Phádraig building demolished, and the construction of a three-storey theatre and community building, a six-storey primary care centre, a public plaza and a revised entrance to Lewis Road car park. Killarney councillors are due to examine submissions from the public before voting to approve or disapprove the redevelopment project. Cllr Moloney indicated that the upcoming decision has been made difficult for councillors. 'It really is coming back on to us,' she said. 'What do we do? Vote no and our theatre is gone. Do we vote yes and there is a primary care centre there? 'Some people do want it, they are not vocal but they do want it. Others are absolutely adamant that it shouldn't be there.' The Labour Party representative spoke during a discussion prompted by a motion tabled by Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae. The motion asked KCC to provide clarity as to why the HSE's plans for a primary care centre formed part of the Áras Phádraig redevelopment project. The KCC response stated that the preliminary business care approved by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund for the Áras Phádraig Development confirmed that the project 'is highly worthwhile from an Exchequer cashflow perspective and from a wider socio-economic perspective, when a Primary Care Centre is included'. 'If the PCC is removed, the analysis indicates that there would be negative socio-economic Net Present Values for the project,' the response said. Cllr Healy-Rae said it is councillors' understanding that millions in funding will be jeopardised if they do not approve the inclusion of the primary care centre in the Áras Phádraig redevelopment. She said locals do not understand why the healthcare facility is part of the redevelopment project when the HSE owns property elsewhere in the district. Cllr Healy-Rae asked for clarity to be provided to the public on this matter. Killarney Cathaoirleach, councillor Martin Grady, said the development of the centre would result in the loss of almost 60 parking spaces. 'Parking and traffic are two of our biggest issues inside in this town. I just fear that if this clinic goes ahead, it's going to worsen that,' Cllr Grady said. Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said the development of the centre would lead to further congestion on Lewis Road, and said he could not understand why a healthcare facility needed to be located near a theatre. He said senior HSE officials have not met with local representatives in relation to the development of the centre. 'Why? Because they believe we will give it the oul' stamp,' he said. Cllr Cronin demanded a meeting with HSE officials who can explain why the care centre must be developed at Áras Phádraig rather than elsewhere. Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O'Donoghue said he felt elected members were being taken for granted by the HSE. 'There is a perception that it is going to be signed, sealed and delivered by a certain date, which may not be the case,' he said. Cllr O'Donoghue said the chief executive of KCC has sought to meet with the head of the HSE but has still not been granted the meeting. The councillor asked who decided to make the primary care centre a part of the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig. 'We've never been told that,' he said. Councillors agreed to hold a special meeting to discuss the Áras Phádraig redevelopment on July 25, on condition that the HSE meet with them beforehand. A KCC official said council management had met with the HSE and requested that a meeting take place with councillors.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Will planning be granted again for controversial plans for prime Kerry site?
Having been granted planning by councillors earlier this year there was wide-spread condemnation of the plans with anger particularly focused on the planned HSE primary care centre on what is a prime town centre site. The development is to consist of a three-storey Theatre and Community building with a screened rooftop plantroom and a six-storey Primary Care Centre. A Public Plaza and a revised vehicular entrance to Lewis Road carpark is also part of the plans. However, now due to a significant error by the council in the process the plans have now gone out to the public for submissions once again. This also means that once the public given their views, a report will be presented to Killarney councillors, and they will have to vote on whether or not to grant planning for the second time. Following an internal procedural checking process by Kerry County Council, it was found in recent weeks that in four separate instances there were a number of submissions, made through their online public consultation portal, which had not been taken into account during the Part 8 development process. Each of these proposed projects will require to be brought back to the respective Municipal Districts for consideration and this includes the controversial Áras Phádraig plans. The process is now open again for the public to give their views and they can do so until June 4 through the council website. At the time of the original public consultation, only 15 submissions were received, 13 of which were from the public. Some expressed concern about the primary care centre with one submission expressing 'dismay' that the prime site would be given over to this development. Concerns about traffic the HSE primary care centre would draw to the area already described as a 'bottleneck' were also raised by the public. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The Killarney Chamber of Commerce in their submission highlighted this loss of parking but welcomed the theatre saying 'Killarney had been deprived of such a facility for a long time.' The public submissions also focused on the design of the theatre and sought assurances that it would have all the necessary facilities to function as a theatre. Several submissions supported the need for this building for not only performances but visual arts too. Given their was some consternation again much of which was focused on the HSE primary care centre it now remains to be seen whether the public and the councillors will strengthen their opposition to the development of the prime Kerry site.
