The Outpatients Department of Ennis General Hospital looks set to be moved to a new facility on the Kilrush Road.
That’s after Clare County Council granted planning permission for the conversion of a retail warehouse into a newly-developed facility, a move which could pave the way for more developments at the hospital itself.
The decision has been welcomed by the UL Hospitals Group, who say it will allow for the expansion of Outpatient services in Clare.
Clare Car and Tractor Parts Ltd & Lohan Property Ltd., led by businessman Martin O’Malley and former Clare hurler Brian Lohan respectively, have been granted permission to modify the existing Westpoint Building to incorporate the outpatients facility.
The move is supported by the HSE, and it’s expected this will house the likes of consultation rooms, and that it will see the existing Outpatients Department of Ennis General Hospital moving to this new location.
That, in turn, would free up space and could allow for more developments at the site of the county hospital.
A previous application at this site, which included the medical facilities but also a suprtmarket and neighbourhood centre, was granted permission by Clare County Council last year, but this decision was later overturned on appeal.
There were no submissions on this fresh appeal, indicating that such opposition is unlikely to occur this time around.
Permission for this development has been granted with seven conditions, including that the proposed centre only operate between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Council’s decision may still be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
