Approval has been granted for the construction of a new medical facility in Ennis which it’s claimed will “improve the lives of patients” throughout the county.
Planning permission has been secured by Fresenius Medical Care Limited for a renal dialysis facility in the Clare Technology Park.
In its application submitted on April 30th, the American-German healthcare company references the growing need for renal care facilities, citing HSE data indicating 5,257 people were treated for chronic kidney disease or failure in 2023 which was up 109 on the previous year.
Its proposed development, it states, will “provide a purpose built facility to improve the lives of patients” in the Ennis and Clare catchment.
A submission made in relation to the application on May 26th expresses concerns that the project would cause “significant ecological disruption” given its proximity to a number of native trees home to squirrels and other animals.
A response from the applicant on June 13th however states that no trees will be removed and that its search for an alternative location has been “exhausted”.
Clare County Council granted permission for the development on June 23rd subject to 13 conditions.
The facility is to be located on a 0.44 hectare site in the Clare Technology Park on the Gort Road and would consist of a single-storey building.
It will feature 20 stations catering for up to to 20 patients at any one time and will hire 16 staff members in total which it’s claimed will result in direct wages of €820,000 annually.
The HSE said in November of last year that the facility will be up-and-running between April and June of 2026.
