BISHOP of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan has confirmed that the diocese intends to press ahead with the sale of a greenfield site at St Flannan’s College in Ennis in spite of the opposition by staff at the college to the move.
The sale is to facilitate a €25m HSE plan for a 100 bed community hospital on Church-owned green space at the college grounds.
Bishop Monahan confirmed the diocese’s intention to proceed with the sale as the HSE lodged new documents with Clare County Council to advance the controversial planning application.
In placing the proposal on hold last September, the Council demanded that the HSE clearly outline confirmation by school authorities or management that the subject lands are not required for any potential or future school expansion on the community zoned lands.
Now, in response to the further information request, Fr Albert McDonnell on behalf of the diocese’s property arm, the St Flannan’s (Killaloe) Diocesan Trust has provided a letter which states that “this letter is to confirm that the St Flannan’s (Killaloe) Diocesan Trust do not intend to use this portion of land for the future development of the school”.
Placing the diocese at odds with the St Flannan’s staff, Fr McDonnell states that “this area is on the periphery of the campus and in the event that the school requires expansion in the future, the Trust believes that there is ample space in the remaining lands for this to occur”.
Asked if school staff or school management was consulted by the Diocese/Diocesan Trust before the letter was provided, Bishop Monahan replied ‘yes’.
Bishop Monahan confirmed that he has had a meeting with College staff representatives on their opposition to the proposed land sale/planned community care hospital. Bishop Monahan described it as “a cordial meeting”. Asked to say what the agreed sale price for the lands is, Bishop Monahan said “that is confidential at this point”.
Asked if the diocese intends to press ahead with the proposed land sale to the HSE to facilitate the hospital development in spite of the staff opposition, Bishop Monahan replied ‘yes’.
The new documentation lodged reveals that the lands were placed by the diocese for sale by private treaty in December 2018 and the lands were to be sold to the higher bidder.
The document states that “the HSE bid was accepted and HSE proceeded to enter into a sale of contract with the diocese subject to planning”.
Last month in a statement, staff at St Flannan’s College contended that the proposed development “will have a seriously negative impact on the student population” for a number of reasons.
College staff stated that the green field development site at St Flannan’s College “is the last remaining site of its kind in Ennis”.
They contended that “urban sprawl is taking up so much of our green spaces each year. Once this land is built upon, it will be gone forever”.
They added, “We understand the need for a new community hospital in Ennis. However, we believe that there are several more appropriate sites available for development”.
The statement was accompanied by a photo of over 60 staff standing on the site around a large improvised sign saying ‘Keep It Green’.
Staff at St Flannan’s will now be able to formalise their opposition to the scheme as the Council can now accept new third party objections on the application.
As part of a 35 page planning report lodged with the further information, planning consultants for the HSE in the case, Tom Phillips + Associates state that lands are fully appropriate for the provision of a proposed Community Nursing Unit (CNU) “and will offer modern in-patient accommodation for older people”.
The report states that in the event that St Flannan’s College does wish to expand, illustrations show there is ample space remaining to the rear of St Flannan’s College to facilitate this.
The report states, “There is also an abundance of land available for running and other sporting activities”.
The report further states that there will no loss in facility in terms of the number of playing pitches currently in use by the school.
On behalf of Tom Phillips+Associates, director, John Gannon states that it is understood currently there are no plans pertaining to the expansion of the school and nor is there any associated masterplan.
A decision is expected on the application in April.
