We came together on 8 February 2007, almost two years ago to the day, and formally signed up to a co-ownership in which each of us is equally responsible for what transpires from this development. From the outset, we were involved with the HSE for the simple reason that Roscrea has been identified as one of the towns in Ireland most in need of a primary care centre. My general practitioner colleagues have been deeply involved in setting up the primary care structure. The primary care team is already in place in Roscrea. The huge deficiencies of which we have spoken exist because, as is the case with Mallow, the Health Service Executive is fractionated throughout the locality. As a town of 4,000 inhabitants, Roscrea is home to seven different Health Service Executive locations, most of which are either rented premises or buildings converted from some other use. We are working with the executive in this regard.
We are quite advanced in our negotiations to become a primary care centre. We hope that matter will be concluded in the coming weeks. The building in question is 23,000 sq. ft. and we estimate the Health Service Executive will take something in the region of 60% of that space. The site is a private one, which we purchased at the height of the market, and we obtained planning permission last January. Invitations to tender were issued at the beginning of January. It is a great time to build because one can obtain great value for money given the current competitive nature of the construction industry. It is now a question of securing funding. In essence, building work could commence within six weeks if we can get the financing in place.
Deputy O'Sullivan asked about the importance of the building being controlled by GPs. It was always our intention that GPs would have responsibility for the building. In my short introduction, I set out why this is important. I can offer an example from my own experience as a tenant. I have been in the same building for 19 years but have never seen my landlord. Every morning, either I or a member of my staff sweeps up pieces of ceiling plaster from the landing. My landlord has written to me three times in those 19 years, each time seeking an increase in the rent. That is the extent of this individual's involvement in my practice.
One sees the situation fundamentally differently if one owns the building in which one's practice is based. The owner of a building will be concerned to see graffiti or litter on the ground on his or her way into the building and will most likely take immediate action. A tenant, on the other hand, will probably telephone the absentee landlord. There is no doubt that GPs being stakeholders in the buildings is of fundamental importance to the ongoing success of these projects. Developers simply will not bring the same drive and determinations as GPs in ensuring these buildings work for the community. I have heard the message coming across strongly since this meeting commenced that our interests are not those of developers. Rather, our interests are as providers of services in our local communities for the people who live alongside us. That is what we have set out to do with these projects. One of the reasons we have such difficulty in recruiting new doctors and dentists is that we do not have the facilities available in our practices that were available to them in their trainer practices. One of the most significant problems we face is that new recruits leave practices such as ours after only six months.
I refer the question on tax write-offs to my colleague, Mr. Conlan.