HSE admits broken promise on helipad

Tony Canavan, chief operating officer with Saolta university hospital group, originally said that the hospital needed Shantalla pitch for just six months as a temporary landing pad for helicopters.

The commitment to be gone in six months was given in November 2013 – but this week, almost 18 months later, and the helipad is still in existence, and the pitch is out of commission for the people of Shantalla.

Mr Canavan conceded, under questioning from Galway City Councillor Catherine Connolly (Ind), that he did not go back to the Galway City Council executive to seek to extend the six months time-frame.

He said that originally it was expected that Shantalla pitch would be used on a temporary basis for six months – it was never envisaged to drag on so long. He gave the six months deadline in ‘good faith’.

“The helipad was relocated temporarily to enable the build of replacement car parking in advance of the building of the new Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU) and Radiation Oncology facility. Problems were encountered with the car park project due to the discovery of waste on the site. They have been well publicised.

“Contractual issues in this regard are now in a formal conciliation process, which is expected to conclude in April 2015. Following this process, we will be in a position to clarify the time span for the return of the helipad to its original location”.

Cllr Connolly, who vehemently opposed the initial land swap, said this week that she was completely unhappy with the response from the HSE.

She said the people of Shantalla had agreed to give up the land, on a temporary basis, for six months only, and it was unfair that the HSE were continuing to use the site without giving a timeframe for when it would be returned to community use.

She sought answers as to whether the HSE formally requested use of the pitch beyond the initial six months that was agreed.

For more on this story, see this week's Galway City Tribune