Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 5:00pm

Boxer casts doubt on €20m health campus go-ahead

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Athlone's long-awaited primary care centre may, once again, be on the long-finger, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran revealed this week that it appeared that funding for the €20m facility was not included in the HSE's 2010 Service Plan.

However, Cllr Moran was accused, by Fine Gael Mayor Mark Cooney, of scaremongering at Monday's meeting of the local town council after

Cllr Moran declared that the news regarding the primary care centre was not good.

The discussion arose after Cllr Paul Hogan and Cllr Gabrielle McFadden both asked that the council seek an update from Local Health Manager Joe Ruane on the health project.

Cllr Hogan (SF) said he had met Mr Ruane before Christmas who had indicated he would be happy to address the council with the update position.

"We all appreciate this is critical infrastructure for Athlone. It's been going on for a decade and needs to be resolved," he said.

Mayor Mark Cooney (FG) said such a meeting would be appropriate when Mr Ruane knew what his allocation for the year was.

Independent Cllr Sheila Buckley Byrne said: "I would welcome him here if he has something to tell us."

Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (FF) said: "The news is not good. Unofficial reports are that the money is not available in this year's allocation."

His party colleague Cllr Kieran Molloy said his understanding from Mr Ruane's last visit was that a certain amount of funding was already in place for the project. He added that this was first put down as a motion in 1999.

Mayor Cooney said they should seek a meeting with Mr Ruane for the April meeting and said Cllr Moran was scaremongering with his unofficial reports.

Cllr Buckley Byrne said it might be appropriate to ask Mr Ruane to write and give them the up to date position at the moment.