Delay in HSE plans to use Carrigaline's Glenwood House as mental health facility

It was slated to be developed into a 14-bed facility as a replacement for Millfield House in Cork City, which had been deemed as “unfit for purpose” in the HSE’s 2021 capital plan.

Prior to planning being granted for a change of use for Glenwood — which by that stage had reduced to a 10-bedroom facility — at least €486,000 had been spent on refurbishing the site, on building, mechanical, and electrical works together with a refit of the bedrooms and utility rooms and the installation of a security system.

A planning application was only lodged for a change-of-use in March 2022, 10 months after Cork County Council warned the HSE that the refurbishment of Glenwood constituted “unauthorised development”.

That application was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents in Carrigaline.

Planning was finally granted last October, nearly three years after Glenwood was bought in an expedited manner due to the need for the HSE to stop renting Garnish House in Cork City as a covid-19 replacement for Millfield House.

Despite the property having been refurbished, it has now emerged that Glenwood House has yet to begin use as a community mental health facility.

“The future use of Glenwood House is currently being actively reviewed by members of the Cork Kerry Community Healthcare mental health services management team,” a HSE spokesperson told the Irish Examiner in response to a query regarding the building’s status.

Pressed as to whether that means the building is still empty, the HSE spokesperson replied: “Glenwood House is not yet occupied, no.”

Separately, it has also emerged that the HSE has ceased renting Garnish House as of December 14, 2023, after Millfield House “welcomed back service users... following an extensive refurbishment programme”, per a response to a query on the matter from Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan.