THE lease for the new €2.5m health centre in Dunfanaghy is expected to be signed in the coming weeks following a ‘frustrating’ and ‘totally unacceptable’ delay.

In 2018, the HSE signed off for a new €2.5m health care centre for Dunfanaghy and the facility was expected to be completed by the middle of 2020 but so far, no works have been carried out.

Planning permission was granted in April, 2019, but the people of Dunfanaghy are currently without a health centre.

The HSE has said that the lease will be signed in the coming weeks, and it is hoped that work will get underway before the end of the year.

The impressive project aims to provide a range of health services in a modern building, while an ambulance station is also expected to be included.

Cllr Michael McClafferty said the ongoing delay has resulted in public anger and frustration as a sod has not been turned on the site.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Cllr McClafferty said, “This has been going on for three years and we are still no closer to having the health centre open. We have no health centre because the old health centre has been closed for some time.

“I got told that I would hear about the project on August 11, but a month later, I still haven’t heard a thing about it.  This is a matter of urgency,” said Cllr McClafferty.

Currently patients in the Dunfanaghy area have to travel to Creeslough or Falcarragh to attend a GP appointment and Cllr McClafferty said this adds ‘extra pressure’ to other GPs but was also inconvenient for many Dunfanaghy patients.

Cllr McClafferty continued, “The patients are mostly going to Creeslough and some of them might go to Falcarragh. Some people can’t drive and have to get taxis or are not well and are forced to make a longer journey than if the health centre in Dunfanaghy was open,” he said.

“In the summer time, there are more tourists around and that is more people who could potentially need a doctor at any given time,” said Cllr McClafferty.

A spokesperson for the HSE said, “The lease agreement for Dunfanaghy Primary Centre is currently being finalised and intended to be signed by both parties, the HSE and the Developer in the coming weeks.”