SCAFFOLDING has been erected at St Conal’s Campus as restoration and refurbishment works have commenced on the historic building.
In recent days, scaffolding has appeared around a chimney on one of the well known buildings in Letterkenny.
The HSE has previously confirmed funding for upgrade works to retain and repair the existing structures of the St Conal’s Campus which is a protected structure.
A spokesperson for the HSE said, “Essential repairs are being carried out to the historic chimney.
“Vegetation is being removed from top of the chimney and brickwork repairs being carried out to bricks dislodged by roots of the vegetation”.
Letterkenny Councillor Gerry McMonagle has welcomed the works and added the works are essential to protect the building’s character.
“The aim of this work is to maintain the natural beauty of the building, chimney and the old clock.
“If these structures can be refurbished, replaced and put back into use while maintaining the building’s character, that will be great to see.
“It is a work in progress and it is good to see the work starting on it so hopefully it can continue and we can get this use of the beautiful building in the near future,” said Cllr McMonagle.
It has previously been confirmed the original buildings at St Conal’s will be refurbished and used for administration support.
An accommodation strategy is being devised and the results of it will determine whether the buildings should be regenerated as a clinical centre offering patients additional services in close proximity to Letterkenny University Hospital.
If given the go ahead the development would result in some of the community-based services and administration currently housed there being relocated.
Following the introduction of deinstitutionalisation in the late 1980s St Conal’s fell into decline and the main hospital closed in 2010.
Today it serves as an administration centre, an archive facility and the provision of some limited health services.
Cllr McMonagle said bringing these buildings back into use will be extremely beneficial for the HSE.
Cllr McMonagle said, “I raised this at the Regional Health Forum and whilst there has been a number of restoration and refurbishment projects carried out, there is still a number of the large buildings unoccupied.
“When I asked for an update, they said they were going to do a number works in the near future including the removal of interjections and extensions which have been added on to the original building over the years.
“The plans include the refurbishment of the 1901 building, which is currently unoccupied and unused.
“This will make way to do an update on the accommodation review in relation to Letterkenny and refurbish the building to be used for admin support for the hospital and HSE.
“Hopefully this will get the 1901 building back into use for much needed admin space while it will also save the HSE money in the long run as they will no longer need to rent space privately around the town and county,” said Cllr McMonagle.
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