HSE in deal to purchase former McKeon car showrooms in Kells

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is in the process of buying a newly-built garage showroom in Kells and will transform it into a headquarters for 175 staff, it has emerged. At present, the HSE accommodates almost 200 staff and services across a number of HSE-owned and leased buildings in and around Kells. "The HSE has been looking at options to consolidate all functions in Kells into one location. Capital funding has now been made available to proceed with the purchase of a building for this purpose. The building identified is on Bective Street, Kells - the former McKeon's car showrooms - and the purchase agreement is in the process of being concluded," a HSE spokesperson confirmed to the Meath Chronicle. "The Bective Street building, once fitted out, will provide better quality, more efficiently designed and more energy efficient accommodation for staff currently working in Kells. There is adequate car parking at the rear of the building. It is expected that the fit-out of this building will be completed towards the end of 2012," the HSE said. The showrooms were offered for sale on the instructions of a receiver acting for National Irish Bank and should save the HSE "significant" monies by centralising staff into "an administrative centre for the Dublin and north-east region, housing IT, finance and communications functions, among other administrative services. "The purchase of this building will allow for the surrender of existing leases and the disposal of HSE-owned properties. The consolidation of staff and services will provide both financial and management benefits," the HSE added. "The savings realised by the surrender of existing leases and cost reductions will be significant and will be directed immediately to frontline services," the spokesperson added. In February of this year, the Irish Times reported that the selling agents, Raymond Potterton in Navan, had been quoting "a price of €2.5 million for the 2,787sq m (30,000sq ft) two-storey showrooms which include a motor service area". At the time of going to press, the HSE could not confirm a price for the building. The showrooms are located on the opposite side of the street from McKeon's petrol station, garage and newsagents, which are still operating as normal. Kells Town Councillor Oliver Sweeney welcomed the news. "The work being done over bringing jobs back to the town has to be welcomed. It'll bring footfall back to the shops and businesses and help create a positive atmosphere. Hopefully, the old headquarters at Headfort Place will be put to good use, too, in the short-term but, hopefully, in the immediate future," he said.