Galway helipad site transfer talks include community gain package
Galway City Council has confirmed that there will be a “community gain” for local residents as negotiations continue over the potential transfer of the helipad site at Shantalla Park to the HSE.
However, Chief Executive Leonard Cleary said he was unable to provide further details at this stage due to the commercially sensitive nature of the ongoing discussions.
“It is a very commercially sensitive item,” he said. “There is a community gain in the package to be brought forward. We are trying to engage with a number of potential solutions regarding helipad locations.
“The local community will still have an amenity in close proximity to where they are living to replace the helipad site.”
Mr Cleary indicated that progress was being made in discussions, describing the process as being “at least two-thirds of the way” towards completion.
He added that elected members would ultimately decide whether an appropriate balance had been struck between community benefit and the proposed transfer.
“We are at least two-thirds of the way there,” he said. “It's the final piece of the jigsaw. It is just this final piece is complex - to acquire that replacement piece of ground.
“We can't come with recommendations until we have a package. Elected members have the mandate, there will be a balance in community gain.”
The potential transfer of the Shantalla Park helipad site to the HSE has been the subject of ongoing discussions between the local authority and health service officials.
There is a community gain in the package to be brought forward.
The issue was raised once again at this month's meeting by Cllr John McDonagh (Lab) who has long campaigned on behalf of local residents.
He has requested ongoing transparency and public engagement in relation to the issue.
And he has also sought assurances that any decision to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of part of Shantalla Park will only be made following prior public consultation.
Cllr McDonagh reiterated the amenity's importance to the community and said it had “been a park since 1943,” while Cllr Terry O'Flaherty (Ind) said the issue had been “going on for years and years”.
Mr Cleary said he appreciated councillors' patience and that, while he could not explain the finer details for commercial reasons, the HSE was “very committed to community consultation”.
At the meeting, Cllr Michael Crowe (FF) expressed fears that nothing would be brought before the council until winter at the earliest.
“This is an urgent matter,” he said. “With the best will in the world, you are probably looking at winter.”
Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) stressed the need for councillors to meet with decision-makers in the HSE.
“I have made contact with the HSE and the only offer was a phone call,” he said.
“The same applies to Cllr John McDonagh. We have asked to be met in person on site. As public representatives, we should have a meeting with the people making decisions on this.”
In response, Mr Cleary said the HSE had “engaged positively and actively” on the issues they were seeking to resolve.