Planning Permission has been granted for a brand new primary health care centre on the campus of St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise.
Back in August last year, it was confirmed that the HSE had applied for planning permission from Laois County Council.
The proposed development is for a four-storey building which is to include a GP surgery, dental and orthodontic surgeries, outpatient facilities, consultant treatment rooms, as well as physiotherapy and occupational therapy rooms.
There will also be group rooms for day-hospital use as well as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), x-ray and ultrasound services, administrative offices, staff and meeting rooms, clinical and utility stores, and waiting areas.
The application includes a new car park with 104 car parking spaces, including accessible spaces and electrical vehicle charging places, as well as 80 bicycle spaces.
Local Independent Republican Brian Stanley TD welcomed thew news.
He said: “This is a critical piece of infrastructure that is badly needed.
“I have been raising this consistently with the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach.
“It is important now that the money is provided to bring this project, which is believed to be about €30 million, to fruition.
“Portlaoise is a town of around 30,000 people which, to my mind, makes it the biggest town in the country not to have a primary health care centre.
“The increased amount of services available because of this will shorten wait times elsewhere in the system.
“This site is shovel ready so there can be no backing away from it now and the government must deliver.”
SEE ALSO – Planning permission granted for new Dunamase College
