County council rezones land for private hospital

Clare County Council this week rezoned land on the outskirts of Ennis, clearing the way for a private hospital to be built on the site. 
Land at Shanvogh, Shanaway Road, had been zoned as residential under the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014 and following a planning application for a private hospital, members of Clare County Council had to decide whether to contravene the plan and change the zoning.
Three-quarters of the county councillors had to agree to the material contravention of the plan in order for it to be passed. The motion was carried by 28 votes to three, meaning a hospital can now be built on the site.
Council planners had previously recommended that planning permission be granted for the 100-bed hospital subject to conditions and councillors passing the motion.
Councillor Johnny Flynn, who is also a member of Ennis Town Council, stated that he supported the proposal to change the zoning because it provided a health service and job creation, adding that while he had some doubts about the site, the Fine Gael councillor believed “some of the concerns of residents have been addressed”.
Fine Gael Councillor Joe Arkins commented that there is currently no private hospital provision in the county and that “what we do have in Ennis General Hospital has been worn down year on year”.
Some debate arose around the site itself as a number of Ennis councillors stated that another site had been identified to them as one earmarked for any possible hospital.
“The reality is that we have an area identified in 2003 as the area most suitable for a hospital and that remains the case,” Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney said.
Council senior planner Gordon Daly said no site had been previously specified for a private hospital.
“A site is zoned community but there is no reference that it is specifically earmarked for a hospital,” he told the meeting.
Fianna Fail Councillor Michael Kelly claimed that the material contravention of the plan to facilitate a hospital was a “no brainer from the point of view that we need a hospital, we need the beds. They are going to create employment both short and long term”.
“I am not too worried about where the site is that provides a health service for the 120,000 people in this county who the HSE has miserably failed,” Councillor James Breen stated.
Councillor Martin Conway highlighted the need for “alternative healthcare in this county because of the downgrading of Ennis General Hospital”.
“If there are people prepared to make an investment and if there is a market there for it, which there is, I think we should support this,” he added.