Planners reach decision over plans for major new health facility in Limerick

PLANNING permission for a new multi-storey health centre in the city centre has been approved.

Limerick City and County Council planners have given the green light to the HSE to commence the development in the grounds of St Joseph’s Hospital in Mulgrave Street.

A four-storey unit, the development is earmarked to include a doctor’s surgery, a Breastcheck clinic, and community care services.

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On top of this, the needs of dental patients will also be planned for, as well as help for people who need to manage chronic diseases.

There will also be consulting rooms, a retail cafe and all associated administration offices.

Some 110 car parking spaces are planned, seven of which are to be wheelchair focused.

A total of 110 bike spaces are also proposed.

The development is earmarked to take place at the front of the St Joseph’s Hospital site, facing onto Mulgrave Street.

In documents presented to council planners, agents for the HSE described the proposed centre as “a critical infrastructure project” for the development of the Slaintecare strategy, which is designed to improve Ireland’s healthcare system.

“The Primary Care Centre is to provide accommodation for two primary care teams currently based in Limerick in accommodation which falls short of what is required by best practice health design,” they add.

Although large parts of St Joseph’s are out of use, the HSE has plans to redevelop the former psychiatric hospital building back into operation. The building is expected to become a new administrative hub for the health service locally.

A new mental health day hospital and rehabilitation facility are also planned for the vast site, returning it to a use it had previously.

Council afforded the HSE planning permission subject to 14 conditions.

This includes a stipulation that the developer pays to the council a contribution of €294,800 for local infrastructure and facilities of benefit to the area.