Long-Term Lease Suggested In 2021. No Letter. No Progress. Now: Kilcullen Building Faces Possible Sale

Despite internal HSE endorsements, local political support, and secured public funding, the building remained locked - and now, instead of being handed over to serve the community, it's facing a possible sale on the open market.

A community group in Kilcullen says it has been blindsided after learning that the Teach na nDaoine building - which they spent years restoring in anticipation of a long-term lease - is now being put up for sale by the HSE.

For years, the group behind the planned Teach na nDaoine community centre engaged in repeated correspondence with HSE Estates, expecting a promised 9-year lease that never materialised. 

Despite internal HSE endorsements, local political support, and secured public funding, the building remained locked - and now, instead of being handed over to serve the community, it's facing a possible sale on the open market.

The site is set in a prime location, that would be an attractive site for a developer, according to a local Cllr.

The building before it was restored - image via Kilcullen diary

Kfm understands that  Kildare County Council is working behind the scenes to obtain the building but council officials are not willing to pay full price. Instead, they are banking on the HSE to provide the building for a nominal fee or free of charge through an intra-state transfer to benefit the local community. 

In a statement issued to Kfm, a council spokesperson confirmed it is aware of a proposal by the HSE to sell the Kilcullen property, and has expressed a strong interest in acquiring it to preserve its community function.

“Kildare County Council is aware of the proposal by the HSE to sell a property in Kilcullen known locally as ‘Teach na nDaoine’. Public and community funding was invested in this property and Kildare County Council would welcome the opportunity to acquire the property and to support the continued use of this facility for the community in Kilcullen and the surrounding areas," a council spokesperson said.

However, the Council also pointed out that the acquisition has not yet been factored into its current development planning:

“In terms of acquiring this property, it should be noted that this purchase is not included in Kildare County Council's Capital Delivery Programme. As well as the cost of acquisition, the property requires an investment of significant financial resources to ensure its continued use as a valued community space.”

To address this, Kildare County Council has called for the HSE to transfer the property at a nominal cost:

“Kildare County Council would welcome a transfer from the HSE for a nominal fee which would then allow the required remedial works to be carried out.”

In anticipation of such a transfer, the local municipal district has already taken steps to allocate funding.

“In anticipation of the transfer of this property to Kildare County Council, the Kildare Newbridge MD members have provisionally set aside Local Property Tax funding to contribute towards the required works and to allow the continued community use of this facility," the spokesperson said.

The Council concluded its statement by reaffirming its readiness to cooperate with the HSE:

“Kildare County Council is happy to work with its partners in the HSE to retain this facility for the community, but capital costs are a key consideration.”

Emails obtained by Kfm reveal a sustained effort by locals, backed by Fine Gael councillor Tracey O’Dwyer, to bring the project to life.

An extensive review of internal correspondence between local councillor Tracey O’Dwyer, HSE Estates officials, and a community representative reveals that since August 2021, the community-led effort to establish Teach na nDaoine has been locked in bureaucratic limbo - with no new lease ever provided and the building now facing the possibility of being placed on the open market.

The intended purpose of the building, as described by Cllr O’Dwyer in her 3 August 2021 email to the HSE, was to:

“Finish the building and allow the facility to open” so it could serve as a rural community hub and potentially a service site for older persons.

This was backed by a strong LEADER funding application - a national programme designed to support community-led local development - and later, by a significant grant from Kildare County Council under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Timeline of Delay Since 2021 when FG Cllr Tracey O Dwyer started contacting HSE officials.

August 2021 – Initial Outreach

On 3 August 2021, Cllr O’Dwyer contacted HSE Property officials on behalf of the Teach na Daoine committee.

She reported that the project had a high chance of LEADER approval.

September – October 2021 – First Site Meeting

Emails from a committee representative and the HSE confirm that a meeting was scheduled and held at the building on 1 October 2021 at 10:00am.

Follow-up emails show that the HSE’s Capital & Estates Office was actively considering a 9-year, 9-month lease.

November 2021 – Lease Endorsed Internally

On 1 November 2021, a HSE official confirmed:

“We have now received a fully signed off application/endorsement from Older Persons Service CHO7 and Estates are assisting with the approvals process.”

Despite this, no letter confirming the lease status was provided.

From as early as October 2021, the community group made clear that LEADER funding did not require a signed lease, only written confirmation that the lease was being actively progressed.

On 22 October 2021, a member of the community group stated:

“An email from the HSE confirming they are in the process of preparing a 9 year 9 months lease... will be all that’s required.”

Despite that request, and internal acknowledgment from the HSE that the lease was under consideration, no such letter appears to have ever been issued.

2022–2023: Repeated Attempts to Restart Talks

On 16 November 2022, the community representative re-sent the thread requesting a lease update.

No response is recorded in the thread.

On 3 August 2023, she again requested progress.

A HSE official responded by asking for solicitor contact details.

On 15 August 2023, the community member confirmed that the group had no solicitor, and asked to be sent a draft lease so they could seek legal assistance themselves.

She also confirmed that:

"We received a significant grant from Kildare County Council under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.”

July 2025: No Lease. No Letter. Possible Sale Of Building.

Despite multiple email interactions and the passage of over 1,400 days, no official lease had been issued or signed.

In a statement issued to Kfm on Friday evening, the HSE said it had engaged with all relevant state stakeholders as part of a statutory process - including Kildare County Council - following the return of the building by its former leaseholder, Teach na nDaoine Cill Chuilinn. 

"In line with statutory obligations and regulations, the HSE has subsequently engaged with all relevant state stakeholders (including engagement with Kildare County Council) around potential intra-state transfer," a HSE spokesperson said.

They added: "It has been confirmed to the HSE this week that no other state stakeholders intend to acquire the property. In the event that an intra state transfer does not proceed, a disposal is to proceed to an Open Market sale. The HSE will now look at necessary steps to move forward on this basis."