Health Minister to meet councillors over Edenderry ambulance bay

A meeting between Edenderry public representatives and Health Minister Mary Harney has been organised for April 1, when councillors will tell the Minister to stop fooling about on the Ambulance Bay development for North Offaly. Councillors want Minister Harney to accept a new plan of action and give people peace of mind on the issue of healthcare access. The builder behind the healthcare development is now offering to build the ambulance bay and Kare centre with his own money and then lease it back to the HSE over a 20 year period. 'We hope to get a private/public partnership deal. Hugh Magill will build it now with private investment and then lease it back to the HSE over 20 years. It"s a huge commitment from the man and I"d personally like to thank him. Deputy John Moloney is backing this plan,' said Cllr Cribbin. Councillors had a heated debate at Wednesday"s Edenderry Town Council meeting as to whether they should wait until next year when the HSE said it will try to provide the €1.1 million in funding, or whether they should fight for the money now. Cllr Noel Cribbin proposed that a cross-party delegation will meet with Minister Harney on April 1, after the meeting was organised through Laois TD John Moloney and also the Taoiseach"s office. Cllrs Brian Carroll, Noel Cribbin, John Foley, Fergus McDonnell and Patricia Brady will attend the April meeting and the Taoiseach has sent the council a letter of support. But Cllr Cribbin said that this could be the final option or otherwise the ambulance bay plans will be back to square one. 'If this plan is turned down, then there will be no ambulance bay for Edenderry,' he warned.