Speculation mounts over expansion of Limerick hospital as land sale approved

COUNCILLORS have approved the sale of a patch of land to the HSE to allow it to be used by Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

The 1.16 hectares of land owned by the local authority is to be sold to the health service for €85,000.

However, in a briefing note to councillors, the local authority’s head of property Jayne Leahy says the health service have had a long-standing interest in acquiring the land.

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“The requirement for the land is to provide expansion opportunities to support the Croom Orthopaedic Hospital campus’s overall development potential,” she wrote.

Ms Leahy suggested, as an example, the land could be used for parking off the hospital campus itself.

The land itself adjoins the hospital to the east, with Croom Primary Care Centre located immediately south alongside a number of homes.

Agricultural land lies to its north and west.

The proposal to sell the land had to be passed by councillors at the bi-monthly meeting.

This is because the sale of public land to other parties, be they private or public, like the HSE, is something which is in the power of members.

In addition, councillors rubber-stamped the sale of the landmark Toll House, adjacent to Athlunkard Bridge in Corbally, where the Shannon splits the Treaty and the Banner counties.

Long out of use, it dates back to the early 19th century.

A cash buyer has been found for the property, with the new owners planning to rent out the premises.