New 130-bed nursing home planned for outskirts of Limerick city

PLANNING permission looks set to be sought for a new 130-bed nursing home on the edge of the city.

Developers have signalled their intention to seek the green light from Limerick City and County Council for the elder care facility on land just off the R526 which links Raheen to Patrickswell.

According to a planning notice published in the Limerick Leader, Loughmore Healthcare No2 is seeking to construct the two-storey structure.

Also included at the site on lands in front of Loughmore Common is a biodiversity area and a separate building used to service the main nursing home.

The proposal would see 130 bed spaces across 128 bedrooms, with dining rooms, communal areas, a production kitchen and a first-floor terrace also included in the main complex.

Planning permission was granted by council in 2017 and 2020 for nursing home facilities on the same site.

The application in 2017 envisaged a 62-bed facility, while the bid in 2020 sought a nursing home with 82 single en-suite bedrooms.

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Separate companies were named as the applicants on these applications - Limerick Healthcare Limited in 2017 and Loughmore Healthcare Ltd in 2020.

On this new application, Loughmore Healthcare No2 is the named applicant.

And the proposed bed numbers represent a more than 50% increase on what was proposed three years ago in terms of bed spaces, with 82 then, and 130 now.

Independent councillor Fergus Kilcoyne, who represents the area on the local authority has offered a warm welcome to the proposals.

He said: “A nursing home where there are amenities nearby is most important. People who are able can go out and meet family and friends in the South Court Hotel, for example.”

He acknowledged that nursing homes are badly needed.

“We have an ageing population, and it’s important families do not have far to travel to go and see their loved ones. This would be a big bonus for the area,” Cllr Kilcoyne added.

Earlier this year, the boss of Nursing Homes Ireland Tadhg Daly warned that urgent action was needed to prevent the closure of private nursing homes.

He said that facilities run by the HSE receive on average 69% more funding per patient, then homes run independent of the health service. This difference is sparking closures, he added.